Hooray, a routine win, never particularly in doubt against a pretty woeful Portsmouth, whose fans must be wondering why they've brought in some unheard of guy when the caretakers seemed to be doing a better job than the very unlikeable Cotterill.
I was pleased to hear a rendition of 'Taylor Made Army' from the Rookery. I did join in, but alas, my Rous colleagues are not a very musical bunch. Not so, the Pompey fans who chanted, drummed and chimed their way through the 90 minutes regardless of what was taking place on the pitch. In particular, its always satisfying to hear an opposition support chant 'What a load of rubbish'.
I found our starting 11 today a lot more palatable than against Brighton. Well 10 of them any-way, I'm not sure I'm ever going to be sold on Big Chris. Everyone else did their jobs with a pleasing conviction and even when errors were made these were safely and confidently covered. It was an all round good team performance. The stand outs being Mariappa who seems to enjoy the company of Nosworthy, Hogg and Bauben who look like they are going to keep Eustace out of the side for a good while, and Kightly who had his best game in a Watford shirt.
We now have a great chance to actually make the first half of our season look pretty respectable with games to come at Donnie and home to Bristol City. Win those and on the pitch things look considerably brighter, more so than in the Watford boardroom at any rate.
Showing posts with label match report. Show all posts
Showing posts with label match report. Show all posts
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Falling out of like- Watford 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 0
I came away from this game confused because as I walked back to the car I felt the usual euphoria of a victory was somewhat absent. Instead there was just a mild feeling of pleasure despite what was a much needed and probably just about deserved victory. I mulled over my feelings whilst stuck in a traffic jam on Tolpits Lane courtesy of some temporary traffic lights that had sprung up during the game. My conclusion was that I'm out of like with Sean Dyche's Hornets.
I'll always love Watford, of course. I love the club so much, all the memories, the memorabilia, the programmes, everything that I've collected over the first 29 years of my support for them. But the current incarnation of the 11 players and manager who act as the figurehead of our club aren't really doing it for me even in victory.
The good bits have left, got injured or are being ignored and been replaced by too many parts that are proving very difficult to take to ones heart. Sure, Carl Dickinson has a nice thing going on in his gestures to the fans but as a player seems too prone to allowing players to get past him. David Mirfin was so bad and anonymous he is already out of the team. The same with Joe Garner. One week they are the answer, the next not even on the bench. Dean Yeates' crossing often leaves a lot to be desired. Indeed tonight he would have been easily outscored by Lee Hodson if they were competing in a game show called Strictly Come Crosses.
Chris Iwelumo makes Trevor Senior and Kerry Dixon look like good committed Watford strikers. I like Troy Deeney I really do but a goal a year? Really?? The quality of his strike tonight said it all. We might as well bring back Liam Henderson. Craig Forsyth was always going to struggle because he is a winger and Scottish and so will always be compared to the ultimately better Don Cowie. He also didn't do himself any favours in admitting he'd had second thoughts about whether he did the right thing in joining us. Even so, I thought the reception he received tonight when subbed was pretty harsh. He wasn't great but I still would've taken Iwelumo off first.
Loach has managed to ensure that the stadium holds its breath every time he needs to make a decision. As for Gilmartin I still don't feel I know enough about him to have an opinion. Dyche's conduct with the keepers has just been downright bizarre. Bring Rene in just to throw him out again after a predictable loss to Southampton? Mention the possibility of him going on loan and bring in Jonathan Bond as the deputy and then send him out on loan instead. It must be so reassuring for them all to know exactly where they stand.
The number of loanees coming in and out is beginning to get difficult to keep up with. So, even more than in previous seasons, none of them really feel like ours. Dychy says he wouldn't sign an injured loan player but then where is Craig Beattie? Are our coaching staff really so stupid that they worked a player without much match fitness into the ground before he had a chance to appear for us? At least Michael Kightly got a game but then the same happened to him. I hope Nyron Nosworthy stays fit because he is the only one other than Andi Weimann this season that I've thought I'd like to see playing regularly in a yellow shirt.
Of the new guys only Jonathan Hogg is anywhere near approaching fully paid up Golden Boy status. Buaben, having finally broken into the team, has made a good start and looks like he might follow suit.
Doyley, Mapps, Tiny, Eustace, Sords and McGinn are all, of course, beyond reproach. As are the number of young academy stars we are being denied much of a glimpse of. I still think they are the answer. This club has been at its most successful when bringing through youth players. The times its been at its worst have been those when too many poor newbies were brought in just for the sake of it. Dave Bassett did it and so did Vialli. I think I can remember that mild feeling of pleasure when they won Watford games too.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Bowel Movements- Watford 0 Crystal Palace 2
Well good bloody grief that was rubbish wasn't it? I think I've had more entertaining bowel movements.
The worst thing about it was that once we went 1-0 down there was absolutely no belief from any-one, most worryingly of all, from us, the fans. There was no chanting, not even much in the way of shouts of frustration. The yellow order seemed to have had the mute button pressed on them. Just a depressed resignation that there was no way we were likely to get back into the match against a decent goalkeeper and a generally better than us Palace side.
Because be in no doubt this was no 'we played well and were really unlucky'. Neither was it anything to do with the officials who were pretty excellent throughout. Although as it was Mark Halsey you'd expect this. One wondered what he'd done to be ref'ing such lowly fair. This was down to us just not looking up for it, not having the quality where it counted and too many players looking like they are simply coasting.
Dyche mentioned the fans again in his programme notes and how we've got an important part to play. I really hope that he's not going to go down the same road as Aidy in the 07/08 season where we're being blamed as much as the players for the performance. That would be fair enough if you paid us to sing and create the atmosphere, or at the very least let us in for free, but when paying £460 for a season ticket please don't expect me to clap my hands or stamp my feet to what we witnessed this afternoon.
I know we've lost good players as Dyche said in his post match interview on 3CR. But he's also brought in lots of new faces and they aren't performing. He needs to change things and pretty quickly. And its not like he hasn't got options with our academy alumni either twiddling their thumbs or appearing in the lower divisions.
The worst thing about it was that once we went 1-0 down there was absolutely no belief from any-one, most worryingly of all, from us, the fans. There was no chanting, not even much in the way of shouts of frustration. The yellow order seemed to have had the mute button pressed on them. Just a depressed resignation that there was no way we were likely to get back into the match against a decent goalkeeper and a generally better than us Palace side.
Because be in no doubt this was no 'we played well and were really unlucky'. Neither was it anything to do with the officials who were pretty excellent throughout. Although as it was Mark Halsey you'd expect this. One wondered what he'd done to be ref'ing such lowly fair. This was down to us just not looking up for it, not having the quality where it counted and too many players looking like they are simply coasting.
Dyche mentioned the fans again in his programme notes and how we've got an important part to play. I really hope that he's not going to go down the same road as Aidy in the 07/08 season where we're being blamed as much as the players for the performance. That would be fair enough if you paid us to sing and create the atmosphere, or at the very least let us in for free, but when paying £460 for a season ticket please don't expect me to clap my hands or stamp my feet to what we witnessed this afternoon.
I know we've lost good players as Dyche said in his post match interview on 3CR. But he's also brought in lots of new faces and they aren't performing. He needs to change things and pretty quickly. And its not like he hasn't got options with our academy alumni either twiddling their thumbs or appearing in the lower divisions.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Joining the Order- Watford 2 Millwall 1
As instructed I thought about Steve Brister as the teams came out. I never actually met him but had read his name several times in fanzines and on the net and did appreciate the t-shirt he put together when GT retired. Last year I got chatting to one of his mates who was collecting for BT buddies and was moved by their commitment and dedication to the charity that meant so much to Steve. I love Z Cars and would usually never hope that it was replaced but I did wonder whether the teams might come out to 'Yellow' by Coldplay in tribute to him as had been kind of hinted at in the programme. If you interested in finding out more about BT buddies click here.
A minutes silence was held before kick off in memory of Dennis Gibbs, Nigel's Dad, who passed away last Thursday. An amazing jack of all trades for Watford Football club Dennis covered the jobs of coaching, match reporting, scouting and even maintenance manager in his years of service at the Vic.
It was a shame that at least one moronic creature situated in the away end decided to chant right at the beginning of the silence but a credit to those people around him who had the decency to tell him to shut up. Thanks Millwall fans, that was appreciated.
I watched the first half from my usual vantage point in the Rous, but I was pleased to see that the Yellow Order had remained down in the south west corner of the Rookery and so at half time I made my way round to sit near enough to them to join in, but far enough away that I didn't have to stand up the whole time (I'm getting old, sorry I can't help it).
It was great to be able to sing out loud without feeling slightly self conscious (as anyone who has ever attempted to sing in the Rous will have felt) and once we went one down but kept on singing there was a satisfying feeling of having helped when first Dickinson and then Forsyth scored to secure the win. If anyone is thinking of unofficially relocating, and the great thing about our stadium is unless you're in the Vic Rd end its very easy to do, then I'd recommend it. I'm not saying I'll give up my Rous seat permanently but I'll give the order another try for the Palace game and see how the half where we aren't shooting towards the Rookery feels.
As for the game, it was yet another where we were in the ascendancy when we conceded but thank god this time we were able to come back and not just for a point. However my first half vantage point did give me a very good view of Millwall's disallowed goal and bloody hell we were lucky and didn't actually deserve that luck. Four of our defenders stood next to each other for their free kick, not marking the three Milwall players who sensibly chose to stand the other side of the little group of yellow shirts. It was an easy decision where to put the free kick and no surprise that the ball ended up in the back of the net. The offside was probably only by a fraction, but had it been given the lino wouldn't have been the one I'd have pointed the finger at. I spend most Sunday mornings telling my son's team to mark up. You don't expect to have to tell a bunch of Championship defenders. I sincerely hope Dychy did.
A minutes silence was held before kick off in memory of Dennis Gibbs, Nigel's Dad, who passed away last Thursday. An amazing jack of all trades for Watford Football club Dennis covered the jobs of coaching, match reporting, scouting and even maintenance manager in his years of service at the Vic.
It was a shame that at least one moronic creature situated in the away end decided to chant right at the beginning of the silence but a credit to those people around him who had the decency to tell him to shut up. Thanks Millwall fans, that was appreciated.
I watched the first half from my usual vantage point in the Rous, but I was pleased to see that the Yellow Order had remained down in the south west corner of the Rookery and so at half time I made my way round to sit near enough to them to join in, but far enough away that I didn't have to stand up the whole time (I'm getting old, sorry I can't help it).
It was great to be able to sing out loud without feeling slightly self conscious (as anyone who has ever attempted to sing in the Rous will have felt) and once we went one down but kept on singing there was a satisfying feeling of having helped when first Dickinson and then Forsyth scored to secure the win. If anyone is thinking of unofficially relocating, and the great thing about our stadium is unless you're in the Vic Rd end its very easy to do, then I'd recommend it. I'm not saying I'll give up my Rous seat permanently but I'll give the order another try for the Palace game and see how the half where we aren't shooting towards the Rookery feels.
As for the game, it was yet another where we were in the ascendancy when we conceded but thank god this time we were able to come back and not just for a point. However my first half vantage point did give me a very good view of Millwall's disallowed goal and bloody hell we were lucky and didn't actually deserve that luck. Four of our defenders stood next to each other for their free kick, not marking the three Milwall players who sensibly chose to stand the other side of the little group of yellow shirts. It was an easy decision where to put the free kick and no surprise that the ball ended up in the back of the net. The offside was probably only by a fraction, but had it been given the lino wouldn't have been the one I'd have pointed the finger at. I spend most Sunday mornings telling my son's team to mark up. You don't expect to have to tell a bunch of Championship defenders. I sincerely hope Dychy did.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Hope for the future - Watford 0 Nottingham Forest 1
Can we never again play Forest at home live on the BBC? The last time we did this was my 15th birthday and we lost 3-0 in the FA Cup Fifth Round. I was as gutted then as I was today. Walking back to the car I could hardly come up with any positives. We probably should never have lost this. Forest were poor. Worse than Derby, on a par with Reading. We had more chances and their goal, as you will have seen if you managed to stay awake, was comical. I can't imagine we did BBC2's chances of beating The X Factor in the TV ratings any good at all. The lack of Andy Wiemann just making stuff happen up front, even if he never does manage to score, was very telling today.
Moving the Yellow Order was definitely a good move and for once the home crowd was louder than those in the away end. In fact Forest were the quietest away support I can remember for ages. But then it must be very hard to get enthuiastic if you can remember winning the European Cup twice, when you've got Steve McLaren in charge of your club and your prospects for the season already look mid-table at best.
Can we now keep the Yellow Order there for the remainder of the season please? Its stupid having them in the top corner of the Rookery furthest from the rest of the support. It makes it look like they aren't wanted. Putting them next to the Rous definitely rubbed off on us a bit today, although expecting us to start chants is going a step too far. I was impressed to see Bas chatting to them before the game started.
Moving the Yellow Order was definitely a good move and for once the home crowd was louder than those in the away end. In fact Forest were the quietest away support I can remember for ages. But then it must be very hard to get enthuiastic if you can remember winning the European Cup twice, when you've got Steve McLaren in charge of your club and your prospects for the season already look mid-table at best.
Can we now keep the Yellow Order there for the remainder of the season please? Its stupid having them in the top corner of the Rookery furthest from the rest of the support. It makes it look like they aren't wanted. Putting them next to the Rous definitely rubbed off on us a bit today, although expecting us to start chants is going a step too far. I was impressed to see Bas chatting to them before the game started.
Talking of chairmen did anyone else notice Jack Petchey's presence in the ground? Thankfully it was only his name on the side of the RAF band's drum but even so, a chill passed over me as I spotted it.
I know fans were being encouraged to wear green this weekend in support of Plymouth but I'm guessing that really was Forest's away kit and not just a one off worn in support of the Pilgrims. As a kit on its own it was just about okay but whoever came up with idea of having the coaching staff wearing the same design with the black and green reversed deserves the Howard and Hilda award for fashion. I bet it seemed like a good idea on paper but it was laughably stupid when made into fabric.
The referee was laughably stupid all afternoon, but I think his penchant for giving most decisions the way of our visitors, not to mention ignoring their time wasting and even wanting to shake hands with their substitued players, can all be explained by the fact that the officials tops weren't that far from the traditional Forest red.
It was good to see the various Academy players before kick off and at half time, especially with their impressive assortment of trophies. Whilst this season already seems to have a long and rather bleak look about it, the parade of eager and determined young faces in Watford yellow hinted at better things to come. But I'd be more hopeful for our immediate prospects if Sean Dyche gave the youngsters a bit more of a look in. Malky seemed to share the Aidy B philosophy that if you were good enough age wasn't a barrier and whilst sometimes it cost us, it seemed like the right direction for our club with its wonderful academy to be going in.
Dychy seems to prefer experience over youth and so far that experience isn't any better than when we had 8 or 9 youngsters in the team. I can see that some experienced heads are needed but we had them anyway in the likes of Doyley, Mariappa, Taylor and Eustace. On their own I don't especially dislike any of the new signings but collectively they seem to have dragged us back to another era. If the youth aren't going to play then at least fill the bench with them. Because bringing on Deeney and Iwelumo first, when neither have shown the slightest inclining that they might be the answer, instead of a prospect like Sean Murray showed a complete lack of understanding in one of the key areas that makes us different. I feel exactly the same about the loaning of Whichelow, Massey and Thompson. They shouldn't be off playing elsewhere, they should be at the Vic, ready to fight for their place and prove themselves ready to play for the club that developed them. Its gives them hope and gives us hope. Failing to get that, especially on 'Academy Day' and we might as well be a Sheffield United or a Crystal Palace. And that doesn't give me any hope for the future at all.
Dychy seems to prefer experience over youth and so far that experience isn't any better than when we had 8 or 9 youngsters in the team. I can see that some experienced heads are needed but we had them anyway in the likes of Doyley, Mariappa, Taylor and Eustace. On their own I don't especially dislike any of the new signings but collectively they seem to have dragged us back to another era. If the youth aren't going to play then at least fill the bench with them. Because bringing on Deeney and Iwelumo first, when neither have shown the slightest inclining that they might be the answer, instead of a prospect like Sean Murray showed a complete lack of understanding in one of the key areas that makes us different. I feel exactly the same about the loaning of Whichelow, Massey and Thompson. They shouldn't be off playing elsewhere, they should be at the Vic, ready to fight for their place and prove themselves ready to play for the club that developed them. Its gives them hope and gives us hope. Failing to get that, especially on 'Academy Day' and we might as well be a Sheffield United or a Crystal Palace. And that doesn't give me any hope for the future at all.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Gelling- Reading 0 Watford 2
This was my third trip to Reading and the third time I've experienced no problems getting off the M4, none parking and none getting away quickly from the ground. Possibly these are urban myths or, more likely, Reading fans just don't turn out in great numbers when Watford come to visit. I got off the M4 just after 2pm and was parked within 5 minutes, albeit minus £8.
As new grounds go I quite like the Mad Stad. Its rather unusual to find the away end is the first bit of the ground you reach (excepting the Vic), rather than the usual walking all the way round the ground or, as at Forest, having to navigate a completely different set of streets to get to the right turnstile.
Even better the whole concourse of the South Stand was open meaning it was easy to get food and go to the loo, etc. We'd been given about 2/3 of the seats and I only sat in my allotted seat for two minutes before deciding it was too close to the front and moving further back and across with no complaints from the stewards.
It was a surprise, but not a lie, to say we won this comfortably. Reading were poor, not as bad as Derby but not much better. After Yeates put us ahead with a lovely free kick, it looked like there may have been a couple of hairy moments down the other end, though for our vantage point it was difficult to tell how close they were. But once Eustace put us 2 up early in the second half there was nothing to worry Scott and the travelling 'Orns behind his goal.
Most pleasing was seeing just how well the new boys in the team are gelling. Carl Dickinson was very assured at left back and its great to see him engaging and encouraging the fans Mooney-style at such an early stage in his Watford career. Jonathan Hogg begins to look like the answer in midfield with a confident display which complimented the best bits of John Eustace's game. Craig Forsyth just seems like a taller version of that other Scottish player we once had whose name I can't now recall (Cow-something?).
Andy Weimann was immense and put in one of his best displays in a Watford shirt. He ran and ran and ran some more, constantly stretching the Reading defence and deserved a goal for his work-rate. Marvin had a quiet game which is understandable after his recent England adventures. Joe Garner looked useful and I thought did enough to be preferred to Deeney and Iwelumo who both appeared in the second half.
Jobi McAnuff unusually didn't put in a decent display against one of his former clubs. I always used to feel that whenever Palace sang the 'You're not good enough' song he tried far harder than usual in a Watford shirt. However today, with the captain's armband on, he just didn't deliver although this might have been because Eustace chopped him in half after about 2 minutes much to our amusement.
A good win and the future suddenly looks quite bright with a trip to Barnsley next week followed by the visit of Steve McLaren's woeful Forest in two weeks.
As new grounds go I quite like the Mad Stad. Its rather unusual to find the away end is the first bit of the ground you reach (excepting the Vic), rather than the usual walking all the way round the ground or, as at Forest, having to navigate a completely different set of streets to get to the right turnstile.
Even better the whole concourse of the South Stand was open meaning it was easy to get food and go to the loo, etc. We'd been given about 2/3 of the seats and I only sat in my allotted seat for two minutes before deciding it was too close to the front and moving further back and across with no complaints from the stewards.
It was a surprise, but not a lie, to say we won this comfortably. Reading were poor, not as bad as Derby but not much better. After Yeates put us ahead with a lovely free kick, it looked like there may have been a couple of hairy moments down the other end, though for our vantage point it was difficult to tell how close they were. But once Eustace put us 2 up early in the second half there was nothing to worry Scott and the travelling 'Orns behind his goal.
Most pleasing was seeing just how well the new boys in the team are gelling. Carl Dickinson was very assured at left back and its great to see him engaging and encouraging the fans Mooney-style at such an early stage in his Watford career. Jonathan Hogg begins to look like the answer in midfield with a confident display which complimented the best bits of John Eustace's game. Craig Forsyth just seems like a taller version of that other Scottish player we once had whose name I can't now recall (Cow-something?).
Andy Weimann was immense and put in one of his best displays in a Watford shirt. He ran and ran and ran some more, constantly stretching the Reading defence and deserved a goal for his work-rate. Marvin had a quiet game which is understandable after his recent England adventures. Joe Garner looked useful and I thought did enough to be preferred to Deeney and Iwelumo who both appeared in the second half.
Jobi McAnuff unusually didn't put in a decent display against one of his former clubs. I always used to feel that whenever Palace sang the 'You're not good enough' song he tried far harder than usual in a Watford shirt. However today, with the captain's armband on, he just didn't deliver although this might have been because Eustace chopped him in half after about 2 minutes much to our amusement.
A good win and the future suddenly looks quite bright with a trip to Barnsley next week followed by the visit of Steve McLaren's woeful Forest in two weeks.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
What Its All About- Watford 2 Birmingham City 2
After 260 minutes of watching this season I had maybe begun to forget exactly what its all about. Was this football experience just watching us pass it around, never really looking like scoring, hoping that it'll end 0-0 before the inevitable gloom sinks in as the opposition takes the lead?
The best bit of the afternoon until THEN had actually not been on the pitch at all, but the moment Radio Hornet played the I've haven't heard it for ages ode to masturbation by the Divinyls 'I touch myself'. Good move. Did it have anything to do with the fact Tommy Mooney had been on the pitch moments beforehand?
Any-way, at around 4-50pm finally IT happened. The reason we all go. That bloody magic, moment of unbridled joy allowing us to jump up and down, to scream and shout and hug, the best feelings of Christmas and birthdays and parties and being drunk and probably even having sex all rolled in to one. WE SCORED A GOAL. And not just a goal of the mundane type Birmingham scored twice but a bloody fantastic Marvin Sordell rocket into the corner of the net that made the goal bulge goal. Happy pandemonium reigned. It was wonderful.
Alas, the happy high of the after glow of this moment didn't last long as our visitors unsportingly scored again and it seemed we'd go home with that feeling just a distant memory as the gloom replaced it once more.
But Marvin wasn't having it. Deep into injury time and he unleashed another shot of even more power and venom but this time Myhill got in the way and the ball ballooned off him and shot upwards. It was one of those slow motion moments. The entire ground seemed to hold its breathe, everyone focussed on the journey of the ball as it reached its summit and returned to earth. Only one man in the stadium moved. Martin Taylor ran forward and met the ball with his head and placed it safely into the net. Time returned to normal and happy pandemonium reigned for a second time. And we weren't to be denied the wonderful feeling of walking back to the car with the happy after-glow lingering. Yes, it may have only been a draw. But it was wonderful. And its the reason why I go.
The best bit of the afternoon until THEN had actually not been on the pitch at all, but the moment Radio Hornet played the I've haven't heard it for ages ode to masturbation by the Divinyls 'I touch myself'. Good move. Did it have anything to do with the fact Tommy Mooney had been on the pitch moments beforehand?
Any-way, at around 4-50pm finally IT happened. The reason we all go. That bloody magic, moment of unbridled joy allowing us to jump up and down, to scream and shout and hug, the best feelings of Christmas and birthdays and parties and being drunk and probably even having sex all rolled in to one. WE SCORED A GOAL. And not just a goal of the mundane type Birmingham scored twice but a bloody fantastic Marvin Sordell rocket into the corner of the net that made the goal bulge goal. Happy pandemonium reigned. It was wonderful.
Alas, the happy high of the after glow of this moment didn't last long as our visitors unsportingly scored again and it seemed we'd go home with that feeling just a distant memory as the gloom replaced it once more.
But Marvin wasn't having it. Deep into injury time and he unleashed another shot of even more power and venom but this time Myhill got in the way and the ball ballooned off him and shot upwards. It was one of those slow motion moments. The entire ground seemed to hold its breathe, everyone focussed on the journey of the ball as it reached its summit and returned to earth. Only one man in the stadium moved. Martin Taylor ran forward and met the ball with his head and placed it safely into the net. Time returned to normal and happy pandemonium reigned for a second time. And we weren't to be denied the wonderful feeling of walking back to the car with the happy after-glow lingering. Yes, it may have only been a draw. But it was wonderful. And its the reason why I go.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Watford 0 West Ham United 4
There is nothing quite as depressing in football as that moment you go 3-0 down. If it was snooker it is at that moment that you'd concede so everyone could do the sensible thing and go home. Of course only the insane never leave early brigade like myself were still there at the end anyway (along with a few thousand Cockneys).
West Ham have that same sickly smarmy smell of Premiership arrogance about them that Newcastle did two years ago. The sooner they are out of the Football League the happier we'll all be.
The picture of Sam Allardyce on page 15 of the programme is one of the most grotesque things I've ever seen.
I'm liking the retro stuff in the programme. Leafing through history, Cozzi's classic and On this day are all brilliant. I especially enjoyed the Wobby report of the 4-2 away win at Upton Park.
Chris Iwelumo runs as if he is treading water. Is he injured or is that just how he runs?
His signature move is the chest down.
It was impressive that Gavin Massey, who must have less than half the body mass of Big Chris, managed to win the same number of headers as him tonight..
The new Post QPR dawn of no away fans worked well. There were none in my bit of the Rous and only a couple in the Rookery. Probably the best bit of the night was seeing them get thrown out.
We weren't terrible tonight. West Ham were far too good for us and yet we were still able to put together some passages of play which hinted at better things to come. However, Saturday away at pointless Coventry is very much the time for the better things to show themselves.
Incidentally if, by some quirk of time travel, you are reading this and the date is the 23rd October 1993 then ignore me on my first point. Don't leave! You'll seriously regret it if you do. Gary Porter, get in there....
West Ham have that same sickly smarmy smell of Premiership arrogance about them that Newcastle did two years ago. The sooner they are out of the Football League the happier we'll all be.
The picture of Sam Allardyce on page 15 of the programme is one of the most grotesque things I've ever seen.
I'm liking the retro stuff in the programme. Leafing through history, Cozzi's classic and On this day are all brilliant. I especially enjoyed the Wobby report of the 4-2 away win at Upton Park.
Chris Iwelumo runs as if he is treading water. Is he injured or is that just how he runs?
His signature move is the chest down.
It was impressive that Gavin Massey, who must have less than half the body mass of Big Chris, managed to win the same number of headers as him tonight..
The new Post QPR dawn of no away fans worked well. There were none in my bit of the Rous and only a couple in the Rookery. Probably the best bit of the night was seeing them get thrown out.
We weren't terrible tonight. West Ham were far too good for us and yet we were still able to put together some passages of play which hinted at better things to come. However, Saturday away at pointless Coventry is very much the time for the better things to show themselves.
Incidentally if, by some quirk of time travel, you are reading this and the date is the 23rd October 1993 then ignore me on my first point. Don't leave! You'll seriously regret it if you do. Gary Porter, get in there....
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Watford 0 Derby County 1
Artistic merit, shots, corners, passes, pretty much anything other than goals scored (and yellow cards) and we won this game handsomely.
Darren Deadman is a very odd ref. Why did he only want to award things to the team shooting towards the Vic Rd End?
So we've still got that crappy scoreboard then. The screen looked good though. For those of us down the Rookery end of the Rous it would be nice to have the second screen up soon.
Dychy is keeping up the Malky tradition of making his subs too late.
I originally hated the 7 subs but now we've gone back to 5 I can really see why they're a good idea.
Not having multi-ball in use is definitely a good thing.
People are being a bit too quick to start on Iwelumo. Give him a chance.
Nice to see that the Vic is being turned back into Watford FC'c ground rather than the corporate nothingness that was the VR Stadium. Good move Bas.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
A Bit of Luck- Watford 3 Reading 0
It didn't bode well when one of our mascots tripped and fell just as they were all running off the pitch and departed in tears. In the opening exchanges we looked a little too desperate and kept making mistakes and giving away the ball. There was much huffing and puffing in the Upper Rous and it didn't take long for a few 'sort it outs' to be yelled. A long afternoon appeared to beckon.
Then came the penalty decision. It looked a cast iron one, far more so than on Tuesday night. Taylor unfortunately always looks like the guilty party in any challenge being twice the size of everyone else, but this time it was obvious that he'd hauled over the Reading player. The ref was in a good position to see it, following the play just outside the area. We all waited for his arm to go up and indicate the inevitable, which had it gone in, given our absymal record at coming back into games, probably would've been it and meant a nervous trip to Coventry awaited.
But, hold on. What had just occurred? That thing that deserted us many many moons ago whose name we've almost forgotten. It was a bit of luck. The ref impausably indicated no penalty, play continued and we went down their end and Graham headed in. Given our excellent record at winning games where we've gone ahead suddenly all was wonderful, sunlit and golden.
We easily held Reading off until half time and then, just to ensure they didn't react to any half time pep talk Helguson scored within a minute of the restart. For the first time in absoultely ages it became clear we were going to be able to sit back and really enjoy a game of football featuring Watford without any worries. Reading looked like a team who weren't really that bothered anyway but to be fair to us we looked like a team who weren't going to give anything away even if they were.
Graham then scored a sublime goal to make it three and was very unfortunate not to get two more. Sordell replaced Helguson who got a standing ovation for possibly his last appearance at the Vic in a Watford shirt and Bennett replaced Hodson. If I was Malky I would've taken Lansbury off just before the end so we could've shown him our appreciation too. Rather overshadowed by his mate from Man U, Angela has still been one of the reasons we've escaped the drop and deserves to take some of the applause himself.
As is the custom now, the players and their kids walked round the pitch at the end thanking us as much as we were thanking them. It's in those moments I know just how much I love this football club. Yes, it been a long rocky road this season and its not all been fun, but I was bloody proud of them following that display. We may have no money, the future isn't that bright but when its matters the playing staff of our club are bothered and we can't really ask anymore than that.
Then came the penalty decision. It looked a cast iron one, far more so than on Tuesday night. Taylor unfortunately always looks like the guilty party in any challenge being twice the size of everyone else, but this time it was obvious that he'd hauled over the Reading player. The ref was in a good position to see it, following the play just outside the area. We all waited for his arm to go up and indicate the inevitable, which had it gone in, given our absymal record at coming back into games, probably would've been it and meant a nervous trip to Coventry awaited.
But, hold on. What had just occurred? That thing that deserted us many many moons ago whose name we've almost forgotten. It was a bit of luck. The ref impausably indicated no penalty, play continued and we went down their end and Graham headed in. Given our excellent record at winning games where we've gone ahead suddenly all was wonderful, sunlit and golden.
We easily held Reading off until half time and then, just to ensure they didn't react to any half time pep talk Helguson scored within a minute of the restart. For the first time in absoultely ages it became clear we were going to be able to sit back and really enjoy a game of football featuring Watford without any worries. Reading looked like a team who weren't really that bothered anyway but to be fair to us we looked like a team who weren't going to give anything away even if they were.
Graham then scored a sublime goal to make it three and was very unfortunate not to get two more. Sordell replaced Helguson who got a standing ovation for possibly his last appearance at the Vic in a Watford shirt and Bennett replaced Hodson. If I was Malky I would've taken Lansbury off just before the end so we could've shown him our appreciation too. Rather overshadowed by his mate from Man U, Angela has still been one of the reasons we've escaped the drop and deserves to take some of the applause himself.
As is the custom now, the players and their kids walked round the pitch at the end thanking us as much as we were thanking them. It's in those moments I know just how much I love this football club. Yes, it been a long rocky road this season and its not all been fun, but I was bloody proud of them following that display. We may have no money, the future isn't that bright but when its matters the playing staff of our club are bothered and we can't really ask anymore than that.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
London- Queens Park Rangers 1 Watford 0
Is it a requirement of every London team to play 'London Calling' before the game? Is it meant to intimidate the opposition, or is it just meant to prove how Cockney the home side is? We had it at Chelsea and QPR went one better by following it up with "I've been thinking about you" by Londonbeat at half time. Clever that, two references to London when you play in the capital. Maybe we should only play songs with the word 'heart' in them.
Also, were the pictures of Lee Cook in the programme meant to wind us up? The editor had adopted the porn mag practise of featuring Cook not only on the front cover but also in the centre pages as well, clothed fortunately. He told us how much he loved Rangers and that he likes playing against us. Yes okay mate, we know. Its getting boring now. In fact I think it would be fun next time he faces us if we all just completely ignored him. No boo's, no chants. Now I bet that would wind him up.
All this is a good way of not mentioning anything about the game because it was as predictable as all our recent away matches have been We didn't get going properly until the second half by which time we were already playing catch up, Marriappa having conceded a penalty towards the end of the first. I haven't seen it again so can't really say if it was as unfair as we all made out, but either way it's not the first time Adrian M has given one away and he must learn to be more careful with his challenges in the box.
Our first half performance was especially frustrating because when you only need three points to be safe you'd expect us to come flying out of the blocks and QPR didn't really look bothered. Maybe they'd read Warnock's programme notes in which he revealed that most of them are unlikely to be there come August. It was certainly the least 'Colin' like performance from one of his teams I can ever remember. The man himself even remained calm and serene when John Eustace's winding up came to fruition yet again towards the end of the game and potential fisticuffs seemed likely.
Dale Bennett was fantastic again, and I've no idea why he should have made way at half time, although it was good to see Lloyd back who I would've played up front given his goalscoring prowess against QPR.
Marvin Sordell, who came on for McGinn, was up front and looked good. He's certainly got pace which is more than you can say for Liam Henderson. Not so good was the introduction of Michael Bryan for the last ten minutes. Again he's fast and twice raced to the byline only to allow the ball to go out for a goal kick, which I don't think would've been the case if Hoskins had come on.
We were much better in the second half and did create chances but, yet again, the luck wasn't with us. It was a depressing evening all in all. I can't really see us going down with the games Palace and Wednesday have got this weekend. But it's very frustrating to see us failing to grasp the chances to save ourselves.
On the tube back R's fans were excitedly talking about next season and who Warnock would bring in over the summer. It was hard not to be envious. Whichever division we're in very little is likely to change given our current financial situation and its hard to see us doing a Norwich or Leicester even if we do end up in League 1 next season.
Also, were the pictures of Lee Cook in the programme meant to wind us up? The editor had adopted the porn mag practise of featuring Cook not only on the front cover but also in the centre pages as well, clothed fortunately. He told us how much he loved Rangers and that he likes playing against us. Yes okay mate, we know. Its getting boring now. In fact I think it would be fun next time he faces us if we all just completely ignored him. No boo's, no chants. Now I bet that would wind him up.
All this is a good way of not mentioning anything about the game because it was as predictable as all our recent away matches have been We didn't get going properly until the second half by which time we were already playing catch up, Marriappa having conceded a penalty towards the end of the first. I haven't seen it again so can't really say if it was as unfair as we all made out, but either way it's not the first time Adrian M has given one away and he must learn to be more careful with his challenges in the box.
Our first half performance was especially frustrating because when you only need three points to be safe you'd expect us to come flying out of the blocks and QPR didn't really look bothered. Maybe they'd read Warnock's programme notes in which he revealed that most of them are unlikely to be there come August. It was certainly the least 'Colin' like performance from one of his teams I can ever remember. The man himself even remained calm and serene when John Eustace's winding up came to fruition yet again towards the end of the game and potential fisticuffs seemed likely.
Dale Bennett was fantastic again, and I've no idea why he should have made way at half time, although it was good to see Lloyd back who I would've played up front given his goalscoring prowess against QPR.
Marvin Sordell, who came on for McGinn, was up front and looked good. He's certainly got pace which is more than you can say for Liam Henderson. Not so good was the introduction of Michael Bryan for the last ten minutes. Again he's fast and twice raced to the byline only to allow the ball to go out for a goal kick, which I don't think would've been the case if Hoskins had come on.
We were much better in the second half and did create chances but, yet again, the luck wasn't with us. It was a depressing evening all in all. I can't really see us going down with the games Palace and Wednesday have got this weekend. But it's very frustrating to see us failing to grasp the chances to save ourselves.
On the tube back R's fans were excitedly talking about next season and who Warnock would bring in over the summer. It was hard not to be envious. Whichever division we're in very little is likely to change given our current financial situation and its hard to see us doing a Norwich or Leicester even if we do end up in League 1 next season.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Mike Keen Charity Cup- Wycombe Legends 4 All Star XI 5
I thoroughly enjoyed an evening at Adams Park especially watching Moons score a hat-trick (which I don't think I've ever seen before). He still very much has 'it' and could easily be doing a job for someone. I'd much rather see him come on for us with 20 minutes to go than Liam Henderson, for example. In much the same way if Gianfranco Zola wants to solve West Ham's problem he should just look in the mirror. He was breathtakingly fantastic even taking into account the slow nature of the defence he was up against. He played like a Harlem Globetrotter showing off remarkable skill at keeping the ball and hit some sublime efforts at goal, two of which went in.
Malky was one of the few who played the full 90 minutes and was the same as ever. Solid, dependale and hilariously taking it all so seriously that he gave the linesman what for on more than one occassion. It was good to see Alec back between the sticks. He made a few decent saves and wasn't really to blame for any of the Wycombe goals, all of which were just as fine as those scored by the All Stars.
The game was a fitting tribute to Mike Keen, with all money raised going to Cancer Research UK.
During the game I wondered how come the pitch at Adams Park is so fine and so green that it could be entered in a Gardener's World competition. It must get just as much use as ours so why does ours looks like a herd of cows regularly lives on it? However they might have the pitch but never the weather. Even on a clear spring evening Adams Park still manages to be the coldest ground in the south. In the second half some of the crowd were huddled under blankets to keep themselves warm.
One problem we both have is that of the erratic scoreboard. The final score was recorded in algerba as their scoreboard read y-5 after 90 minutes. Ours seems to struggle to cope with a game that has one goal in it, so it would still probably be trying now to correctly reflect a 5-4 scoreline. Don't these things come with receipts or guarantees?
Malky was one of the few who played the full 90 minutes and was the same as ever. Solid, dependale and hilariously taking it all so seriously that he gave the linesman what for on more than one occassion. It was good to see Alec back between the sticks. He made a few decent saves and wasn't really to blame for any of the Wycombe goals, all of which were just as fine as those scored by the All Stars.
The game was a fitting tribute to Mike Keen, with all money raised going to Cancer Research UK.
During the game I wondered how come the pitch at Adams Park is so fine and so green that it could be entered in a Gardener's World competition. It must get just as much use as ours so why does ours looks like a herd of cows regularly lives on it? However they might have the pitch but never the weather. Even on a clear spring evening Adams Park still manages to be the coldest ground in the south. In the second half some of the crowd were huddled under blankets to keep themselves warm.
One problem we both have is that of the erratic scoreboard. The final score was recorded in algerba as their scoreboard read y-5 after 90 minutes. Ours seems to struggle to cope with a game that has one goal in it, so it would still probably be trying now to correctly reflect a 5-4 scoreline. Don't these things come with receipts or guarantees?
Saturday, April 10, 2010
A Poor Standard- Watford 1 Plymouth Argyle 0
I walked into the Vic to the sound of 'Teenage Kicks' and feared this was some comment on the team we were putting out. I was even more concerned to see some tiny kids milling around by the tunnel in their Watford kits and assumed this was the bench. But actually the team we put out was pretty standard apart from the lack of expensive Premiership loanees.
However it was a poor standard that looked much more League 1 than Championship. It shows how much we've come to rely on the young stars of the division above. If you strip them away and throw in a couple of injuries then we're very very average. Plymouth were worse. They didn't go into the game looking like they believed they had any chance of avoiding the drop, although maybe that's fair enough considering they've still got Newcastle and Forest to come.
But its concerning that we just beat them and nothing more. This wasn't a performance to warm the heart. It wasn't anything like West Brom. We had a couple of good chances which we failed to score from, Graham hiting the post and H shooting over from a couple of yards out, but had to rely on a rather ridiculous goal which was handed to H when a Plymouth defender failed to clear.
Scott Loach had very little to do all afternoon, partly because the excellent Dale Bennett was so good at ensuring the Plymouth attack never got a proper sight on goal. He looks like he's going to steal the young player of the year crown from Lee Hodson when he's played far fewer games. Hodson was okay, but not as self assured as he'd been earlier in the season. DeMerit and Mariappa did fine but then you'd expect that against a side so bad.
The midfield was far more obvious than usual in its attempts to feed the ball up to H and Danny Graham. For some of the afternoon you might have thought Hoofers was back in charge. Eustace continued to excel in his role as winder up in chief, Jenkins display won't keep Lansbury out of the side once his suspension is over. McGinn looks like he's got potential. I used to think that about Cowie but anything he brings to the team seems to evaporate the moment he is either challenged, or has to make a challenge.
Danny Graham had his best game for a while. He might not be our 20 goal a game striker but his work rate is exceptional. He didn't stop running all afternoon and rightly kept pressuring the dodgy looking Plymouth keeper. H, however, just looks tired. It was great he scored but there were times when he lost the ball and didn't bother to try and win it back again. He doesn't look himself and the end of the season probably can't come quick enough for him. I don't think it will be long before he's joining the likes of Mooney in the 3CR commentary box.
Malky could be critisized for not making substitutions again, but possibly this was because of the injury/suspension situation. H came off after about 80 minutes to be replaced by Liam Henderson. Despite his recent hat-trick in the reserves he still doesn't look ready to be challenging for a regular first team place, which makes me wonder how bad Ryan Noble must be.
It would be very dangerous for us to go away from this game thinking everything will be okay now, even though all the results went for us. We'll need to improve massively if we're to get anything from Leicester, QPR, Reading and Coventry. Luckily Lansbury will be back but we need more West Brom type displays from the rest if they don't want to risk playing Plymouth again next season.
However it was a poor standard that looked much more League 1 than Championship. It shows how much we've come to rely on the young stars of the division above. If you strip them away and throw in a couple of injuries then we're very very average. Plymouth were worse. They didn't go into the game looking like they believed they had any chance of avoiding the drop, although maybe that's fair enough considering they've still got Newcastle and Forest to come.
But its concerning that we just beat them and nothing more. This wasn't a performance to warm the heart. It wasn't anything like West Brom. We had a couple of good chances which we failed to score from, Graham hiting the post and H shooting over from a couple of yards out, but had to rely on a rather ridiculous goal which was handed to H when a Plymouth defender failed to clear.
Scott Loach had very little to do all afternoon, partly because the excellent Dale Bennett was so good at ensuring the Plymouth attack never got a proper sight on goal. He looks like he's going to steal the young player of the year crown from Lee Hodson when he's played far fewer games. Hodson was okay, but not as self assured as he'd been earlier in the season. DeMerit and Mariappa did fine but then you'd expect that against a side so bad.
The midfield was far more obvious than usual in its attempts to feed the ball up to H and Danny Graham. For some of the afternoon you might have thought Hoofers was back in charge. Eustace continued to excel in his role as winder up in chief, Jenkins display won't keep Lansbury out of the side once his suspension is over. McGinn looks like he's got potential. I used to think that about Cowie but anything he brings to the team seems to evaporate the moment he is either challenged, or has to make a challenge.
Danny Graham had his best game for a while. He might not be our 20 goal a game striker but his work rate is exceptional. He didn't stop running all afternoon and rightly kept pressuring the dodgy looking Plymouth keeper. H, however, just looks tired. It was great he scored but there were times when he lost the ball and didn't bother to try and win it back again. He doesn't look himself and the end of the season probably can't come quick enough for him. I don't think it will be long before he's joining the likes of Mooney in the 3CR commentary box.
Malky could be critisized for not making substitutions again, but possibly this was because of the injury/suspension situation. H came off after about 80 minutes to be replaced by Liam Henderson. Despite his recent hat-trick in the reserves he still doesn't look ready to be challenging for a regular first team place, which makes me wonder how bad Ryan Noble must be.
It would be very dangerous for us to go away from this game thinking everything will be okay now, even though all the results went for us. We'll need to improve massively if we're to get anything from Leicester, QPR, Reading and Coventry. Luckily Lansbury will be back but we need more West Brom type displays from the rest if they don't want to risk playing Plymouth again next season.
Monday, April 05, 2010
A Team Performance- Watford 1 West Bromwich Albion 1
Having said on Tuesday night that it was important to maintain perspective when all I really wanted to do was say 'what the bloody hell was that', similarly I think the same is true now when all I can think of are superlatives for the overall team effort.
I can't remember the last time I'd less looked forward to a Watford game, or the last time I walked away from the Vic feeling so proud. Whatever Malky said to them this time it really worked. They did sweat for the shirt for the entire 96 minutes, and 'they' weren't anything like our best 14 from our very small squad. It was very much a team performance but I can't resist picking some of them for special mentions.
Dale Bennett, as with earlier in the season, showed that he is just as good as any other central defender at the club. There were a couple of times when he was the player to put in the decisive tackle when Mariappa and DeMerit had tried and failed. If I was Martin Taylor or Jay I'd be seriously worried about keeping my place in the side.
Adrian Mariappa. Is he trying to emulate Lloyd? He had that great chance in the first half that Carson tipped over the bar and then a superman style shot in the second that he struck so hard Carson visibly shook his hands in pain after saving it. A most welcome and unexpected new attacking option.
John Eustace, lots of fun to watch at the moment especially his cheeky wrestling match in the first half. He must have known he wasn't going to get anywhere with it and was going in the book. But it was worthwhile as it eventually resulted in three West Brom players joining him for their protests. He seems to know just how far he can go in winding up the opposition before getting into serious trouble.
Danny Graham. I think very unfairly picked out by a small section of supporters as being one to blame for something or other over the last couple of months, yet this was his 10th goal of the campaign. He's kept plugging away, making himself awkward and struck what would be goal of the season if the voting hadn't already closed.
And, of course, Tom Cleverley. If that's it then its a horrible way to end his Watford career. I hope we get another chance to say thank you, because he has been a constant shining light through a fair amount of gloom this season and without him we'd be in a far worse position than 21st.
All in all very heartening, especially coming away feeling bitter at having only taken a point when beforehand we would've taken it without thinking.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Over-reacting- Watford 1 Crystal Palace 3
After these sort of games over-reaction is an easy thing to fall in to. So I'll try and stay on the right side of rationality.
As I wrote in an earlier post Palace are not your usual relegation fodder kettle of fish. They are only in the bottom three having fallen foul of this stupid rule that deems it acceptable that something that happens in the boardroom can have a bearing on a competition which otherwise uses football matches as its way of determining the order of things. Therefore we shouldn't see this in quite the same way as losing at home to Peterborough.
After all, for 49.9% of the match we were the better team. I can't remember a more bold and effective first half performance. We hit the post, the bar and had the officials not been incompetent in the extreme would've had one, if not two penalties. Our defence went to sleep for a few seconds and as soon as you spotted the big figure of Stern John free in our 6 yard box it was obvious that Palace were going to score a very undeserved goal.
At half time one would expect the manager to say all the right things about keeping going, staying alert and generally encouraging his players to continue in the same vein and that something will eventually happen. I'm sure Malky did this. But he must accept that whatever it was he said it seriously didn't get through. He must find a way of ensuring that for the remaining 7 games we never again get a 45 minutes like the one we did when the players reemerged.
He must also realise his own responsibility in being able to change what's happening on the pitch. We appreciate he can't kick or header every ball but he could've acted far far earlier than he did and with much more impact in the second half. The time to act was after that second goal. It needed a big response that said we're not accepting this in the way GT did so famously all those years ago against Tranmere. Waiting until we were 3 down was akin to giving up. The crowds reaction to Danny Graham replacing Don Cowie spoke volumes through its muted response. None of us believed it was going to make a difference.
What we needed was an impact player, just as Middlesbrough had with Leroy Lita on Saturday. I know we have very limited options but what about Heidar? Unfortunately he's beginning to look like the slightly older footballer we all know he's become but don't want to believe. So rather than flogging him to death every game lets keep him back and bring him on for those grandstand finishes that I'm sure he still has the strength and energy to conjure up. Remember how he changed that game against Leicester? That was what we needed.
Its been much said already but why have Ryan Noble on loan if we aren't using him, particularly in a situation like Tuesday night. Otherwise just what situation have we got him in on an emergency loan for, when we're a couple of goals up to come on for a cameo? The only reason I can think that he hasn't featured is that he actually isn't as good as Malky was led to believe. If that is the case then a serious word needs to be had with whoever scouted him because we really don't need to be looking after another teams young kid at such a crucial stage of the season.
The worst bit about Tuesday was the reaction of Palace when we finally did score. They were worried, really worried even though they only had seven minutes to hang on. They didn't believe they could do it. Unfortunately neither did we.
As I wrote in an earlier post Palace are not your usual relegation fodder kettle of fish. They are only in the bottom three having fallen foul of this stupid rule that deems it acceptable that something that happens in the boardroom can have a bearing on a competition which otherwise uses football matches as its way of determining the order of things. Therefore we shouldn't see this in quite the same way as losing at home to Peterborough.
After all, for 49.9% of the match we were the better team. I can't remember a more bold and effective first half performance. We hit the post, the bar and had the officials not been incompetent in the extreme would've had one, if not two penalties. Our defence went to sleep for a few seconds and as soon as you spotted the big figure of Stern John free in our 6 yard box it was obvious that Palace were going to score a very undeserved goal.
At half time one would expect the manager to say all the right things about keeping going, staying alert and generally encouraging his players to continue in the same vein and that something will eventually happen. I'm sure Malky did this. But he must accept that whatever it was he said it seriously didn't get through. He must find a way of ensuring that for the remaining 7 games we never again get a 45 minutes like the one we did when the players reemerged.
He must also realise his own responsibility in being able to change what's happening on the pitch. We appreciate he can't kick or header every ball but he could've acted far far earlier than he did and with much more impact in the second half. The time to act was after that second goal. It needed a big response that said we're not accepting this in the way GT did so famously all those years ago against Tranmere. Waiting until we were 3 down was akin to giving up. The crowds reaction to Danny Graham replacing Don Cowie spoke volumes through its muted response. None of us believed it was going to make a difference.
What we needed was an impact player, just as Middlesbrough had with Leroy Lita on Saturday. I know we have very limited options but what about Heidar? Unfortunately he's beginning to look like the slightly older footballer we all know he's become but don't want to believe. So rather than flogging him to death every game lets keep him back and bring him on for those grandstand finishes that I'm sure he still has the strength and energy to conjure up. Remember how he changed that game against Leicester? That was what we needed.
Its been much said already but why have Ryan Noble on loan if we aren't using him, particularly in a situation like Tuesday night. Otherwise just what situation have we got him in on an emergency loan for, when we're a couple of goals up to come on for a cameo? The only reason I can think that he hasn't featured is that he actually isn't as good as Malky was led to believe. If that is the case then a serious word needs to be had with whoever scouted him because we really don't need to be looking after another teams young kid at such a crucial stage of the season.
The worst bit about Tuesday was the reaction of Palace when we finally did score. They were worried, really worried even though they only had seven minutes to hang on. They didn't believe they could do it. Unfortunately neither did we.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Shooooot!- Watford 1 Middlesbrough 1
Can we have Graham come out and give a little pep talk every game? It was especially pleasing that it didn't even seem to be completely 'on message'. Was the bit about shooting a very small dig at Malky and his team? GT's philosophy was always get the ball in the box as often as possible and shoot because you're more likely to score goals (sounds obvious really). This is why I was surprised at what seemed to be GT's whole hearted endorsement of the Rodgers regime when it involved taking free kicks backwards and the like.
Malky hasn't gone down quite the same road but we still pass the ball sideways far too much for my liking. So GT's request for us to yell 'Shoot' at any player nearing the box, not just Lloyd, was most welcome and even better, the players responded to it.
Eustace was the most effective with his long range lob going in. It was overly harsh when he tried a couple more of these sort of things in the second half that much abuse was shouted at him from the Rous (by people clearing not listening to GT). I don't mind a player occasionally shooting and hitting row Z if they also occasionally hit the back of the net.
Will Buckley made his debut and a storming one it was too. Okay, it was slightly difficult to judge just how good he was seeing as Middlesbrough only gave him a few seconds on the ball before hacking him over every time, but the fact they felt it necessary is encouraging.
Overall, it was a good team display and one that certainly wasn't that of a team who are one of the worst three in the division. So how do we find ourselves in a situation where we're still one of the major contenders in the dogfight? I think the answer was on the back of the programme. In place of the depressing league table they'd printed clubs in order of average points gained when taking the lead. We were 5th, just below Newcastle and West Brom. Possibly this was the only stat they could come up with that put us this high up the table but it also explains much about our current plight. The confidence of the team very much depends on who gets the first goal. If its us then we have the belief to get something out of the game. If it goes against us then that belief disappears, which explains the hammerings we got against West Brom and Cardiff as well our dreadful away form.
Had Boro scored, as it looked like they might have done a couple of times early on, I reckon we would've have come away very depressed. Luckily they looked like a team that is already preparing for another season in the Championship. Only Leroy Lita (who else) looked really bothered and as soon as he came on 5 minutes after half time it was clear he was the one we needed to worry about. Unfortunately our defence only woke up to this after he'd equalised, but at least they then marked him out of the game.
Palace now decreases ever so slightly in importance on Tuesday. If we can then come up against other teams who are already looking forward to the summer break we might still be able to finish somewhere slightly more respectable than 21st.
Malky hasn't gone down quite the same road but we still pass the ball sideways far too much for my liking. So GT's request for us to yell 'Shoot' at any player nearing the box, not just Lloyd, was most welcome and even better, the players responded to it.
Eustace was the most effective with his long range lob going in. It was overly harsh when he tried a couple more of these sort of things in the second half that much abuse was shouted at him from the Rous (by people clearing not listening to GT). I don't mind a player occasionally shooting and hitting row Z if they also occasionally hit the back of the net.
Will Buckley made his debut and a storming one it was too. Okay, it was slightly difficult to judge just how good he was seeing as Middlesbrough only gave him a few seconds on the ball before hacking him over every time, but the fact they felt it necessary is encouraging.
Overall, it was a good team display and one that certainly wasn't that of a team who are one of the worst three in the division. So how do we find ourselves in a situation where we're still one of the major contenders in the dogfight? I think the answer was on the back of the programme. In place of the depressing league table they'd printed clubs in order of average points gained when taking the lead. We were 5th, just below Newcastle and West Brom. Possibly this was the only stat they could come up with that put us this high up the table but it also explains much about our current plight. The confidence of the team very much depends on who gets the first goal. If its us then we have the belief to get something out of the game. If it goes against us then that belief disappears, which explains the hammerings we got against West Brom and Cardiff as well our dreadful away form.
Had Boro scored, as it looked like they might have done a couple of times early on, I reckon we would've have come away very depressed. Luckily they looked like a team that is already preparing for another season in the Championship. Only Leroy Lita (who else) looked really bothered and as soon as he came on 5 minutes after half time it was clear he was the one we needed to worry about. Unfortunately our defence only woke up to this after he'd equalised, but at least they then marked him out of the game.
Palace now decreases ever so slightly in importance on Tuesday. If we can then come up against other teams who are already looking forward to the summer break we might still be able to finish somewhere slightly more respectable than 21st.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Giving Us Something To Cheer- Watford 2 Ipswich Town 1
Those who bought it were greeted by loads more 'sticking together' type sentiments in the matchday programme. This is obviously a particular bugbear of the club at the moment. It would be a completely legitmate thing to moan about on this scale if the dissent had reached unrealistic proportions to our current situation. People baying for Malky's head in the way they did Bassett's would be unacceptable right now. But good grief, lose at home to Peterborough and what do you expect??
Also it would be a fair point to make if we had entered into some sort of pact. How about let us in for free and we won't boo? But if you charge us £20 you can't expect us all to come and play the part of Watford cheerleaders.
A very obvious retort to all this is 'give us something to cheer about'. Luckily, from kick off last night, we did get a much improved performance and it fed the crowd who in turn fed the team. Cleverley was very unlucky early on not to put us ahead when a free kick that looked like it was going in got deflected and hit the post. Ten minutes later Lansbury scored from nearly the same position with a free kick which beat everyone and went in.
We continued attacking thoroughout the half most memorably when a Lloyd Doyley stepover and cross set up an H header which hit the post. Had it gone in it would've been goal of the season.
The only real negative point of the half concerned Scott Loach not coming out to collect crosses. He left a questionable one which Taylor got rid off, but minutes later neglected to get one which should have been his comfortably. Communication is clearly something he needs to improve with Taylor and DeMerit because a better side would punish such hestiancy.
You can't treat a Roy Keane team like we did in the first half and not expect a reaction after the break. Unfortunately whilst maybe we were ready for it, we didn't seem to know how to cope with the Ipswich attack, especially down the right flank and so defended deeper and deeper until the inevitable happened.
At 1-1 it would've been easy to capitualte totally and for a while I think we all feared the worst. But Will Hoskins, who started in place of Danny Graham, justfied his inclusion by scoring with a fine strike following a Cleverley cross. He seemed to collapse with the effort of it all straight afterwards but its to his credit he is prepared to run himself into the ground for his team.
In the final ten minutes we still defended far too deep, had too many unpleasant moments and seem to have forgotten completely how to run the ball into the corner and keep it there (could Gifton be the next legend to visit the Vic and maybe give some lessons??), but we hung on and that's what mattered. No boos or dissent at the end. All of us sticking together, but grateful to have had something to cheer.
In Malky's post match comments on the OS he did admit that the fans thoroughly deserved to voice their opinion. But this is something that is probably much easier to say when you've walked in from a standing ovation than to the boos echoing round a half empty stadium.
Also it would be a fair point to make if we had entered into some sort of pact. How about let us in for free and we won't boo? But if you charge us £20 you can't expect us all to come and play the part of Watford cheerleaders.
A very obvious retort to all this is 'give us something to cheer about'. Luckily, from kick off last night, we did get a much improved performance and it fed the crowd who in turn fed the team. Cleverley was very unlucky early on not to put us ahead when a free kick that looked like it was going in got deflected and hit the post. Ten minutes later Lansbury scored from nearly the same position with a free kick which beat everyone and went in.
We continued attacking thoroughout the half most memorably when a Lloyd Doyley stepover and cross set up an H header which hit the post. Had it gone in it would've been goal of the season.
The only real negative point of the half concerned Scott Loach not coming out to collect crosses. He left a questionable one which Taylor got rid off, but minutes later neglected to get one which should have been his comfortably. Communication is clearly something he needs to improve with Taylor and DeMerit because a better side would punish such hestiancy.
You can't treat a Roy Keane team like we did in the first half and not expect a reaction after the break. Unfortunately whilst maybe we were ready for it, we didn't seem to know how to cope with the Ipswich attack, especially down the right flank and so defended deeper and deeper until the inevitable happened.
At 1-1 it would've been easy to capitualte totally and for a while I think we all feared the worst. But Will Hoskins, who started in place of Danny Graham, justfied his inclusion by scoring with a fine strike following a Cleverley cross. He seemed to collapse with the effort of it all straight afterwards but its to his credit he is prepared to run himself into the ground for his team.
In the final ten minutes we still defended far too deep, had too many unpleasant moments and seem to have forgotten completely how to run the ball into the corner and keep it there (could Gifton be the next legend to visit the Vic and maybe give some lessons??), but we hung on and that's what mattered. No boos or dissent at the end. All of us sticking together, but grateful to have had something to cheer.
In Malky's post match comments on the OS he did admit that the fans thoroughly deserved to voice their opinion. But this is something that is probably much easier to say when you've walked in from a standing ovation than to the boos echoing round a half empty stadium.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Misquoting Aristotle- Watford 0 Peterborough United 1
Yes yes. We have to stick together. No booing. Yada yada. Okay, we know. But the very fact people are booing says something is wrong. That the team who are bottom of the table and whose manager considers them relegated, has now done the double over us bellows in an extremely loud way that something is wrong.
It is much said that all you need to survive in this division is to find three teams worse than you. For much of the season we've been comfortably above that threshold. But suddenly form, cohesion and the ability to shoot seem to have deserted us at just the wrong moment, which means a league meeting with Rochdale in the near future doesn't seem to be quite such an unlikely prospect as it was after those fine Tuesday night wins in early February.
I wouldn't usually quote Aristotle but his 'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts' comment applies to this Watford team, only in reverse at the moment. If I consider each player individually I come to the conclusion that we've got enough quality to easily survive in the Championship. Loach, not the finished article yet but capable of making brilliant saves, who should be protected in his more vulnerable moments by the sheer brute force of DeMerit and Taylor in front of him. Mariappa, when he isn't suffering a crisis of confidence, quietly effective at the back and useful going forward. Lloydinho doing the same on the other flank, the Watford player you'd want beside you in the trenches. Tom and Angela, too quick and clever for most in this division. Eustace and Cowie, not in anything like the league of our loanees but always willing to try, always running. H and Graham, the perfect make up of centre forwards, tall enough to win headers but skillful enough to not just rely simply on nodding in crosses. Then add in a supporting cast of Hodson, Jenkins, Harley and Hoskins.
It sounds like a decent enough team. But put them all together and it isn't working. The man responsible for them needs to start coming out publicly with some home truths. I'm sure he is doing this in the dressing room. But to constantly remind us about sticking together is beginning to stick in the throat in the same way Aidy's 'Show your colours' and 'Who are we-Watford' did at the end of the 07/08 season. It sounds as if we're being at least partly blamed for what's going on. What we witnessed yesterday wasn't good enough and Malky needs to come out and say that so we know he is seeing what we see. Not to do so risks the likelihood of more rather than less booing. It also might give the players the kick up the backside they need to start playing as a team again and avoid a trip to Spotland in 2010/11.
It is much said that all you need to survive in this division is to find three teams worse than you. For much of the season we've been comfortably above that threshold. But suddenly form, cohesion and the ability to shoot seem to have deserted us at just the wrong moment, which means a league meeting with Rochdale in the near future doesn't seem to be quite such an unlikely prospect as it was after those fine Tuesday night wins in early February.
I wouldn't usually quote Aristotle but his 'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts' comment applies to this Watford team, only in reverse at the moment. If I consider each player individually I come to the conclusion that we've got enough quality to easily survive in the Championship. Loach, not the finished article yet but capable of making brilliant saves, who should be protected in his more vulnerable moments by the sheer brute force of DeMerit and Taylor in front of him. Mariappa, when he isn't suffering a crisis of confidence, quietly effective at the back and useful going forward. Lloydinho doing the same on the other flank, the Watford player you'd want beside you in the trenches. Tom and Angela, too quick and clever for most in this division. Eustace and Cowie, not in anything like the league of our loanees but always willing to try, always running. H and Graham, the perfect make up of centre forwards, tall enough to win headers but skillful enough to not just rely simply on nodding in crosses. Then add in a supporting cast of Hodson, Jenkins, Harley and Hoskins.
It sounds like a decent enough team. But put them all together and it isn't working. The man responsible for them needs to start coming out publicly with some home truths. I'm sure he is doing this in the dressing room. But to constantly remind us about sticking together is beginning to stick in the throat in the same way Aidy's 'Show your colours' and 'Who are we-Watford' did at the end of the 07/08 season. It sounds as if we're being at least partly blamed for what's going on. What we witnessed yesterday wasn't good enough and Malky needs to come out and say that so we know he is seeing what we see. Not to do so risks the likelihood of more rather than less booing. It also might give the players the kick up the backside they need to start playing as a team again and avoid a trip to Spotland in 2010/11.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Enough of the Foreplay- Watford 1 Newcastle United 2
A game that gave us all a reminder of what it was like to be amongst the elite for two seasons and how, when you're the smaller team, nothing seems to go your way. I find it depressing to think such thoughts but I came away deciding that I prefer it in the Championship playing average Championship teams where, by and large, you have a 50/50 chance of getting a result. Against a team like Newcastle you seem to have a 10/90 chance and not just because of their superior resources.
The officials might as well have taken to the pitch in black and white stripes rather than bright orange. They clearly favoured the big team, looked like they were on first name terms with their players and gave them free kicks every time they fell over. Any similar 'light' challenge on a Watford player went unpunished and we only got something if the foul was particularly nasty. With offsides the linesman on the Rous side ignored most things in the first half but gave everything in the second.
The opposition only really created four chances all afternoon but scored two of them. However, I've no doubt had we managed to get back into the game early enough they would've easily managed to conjure up some more. Its true to say we had the majority of the possession but they seemed content to allow us to pass it between ourselves without ever looking threatening until it was too late.
Sometimes I feel Malky's Watford believe that games are decided on the amount of passes completed rather than goals scored. So often we seem to have the opportunity to break but elect to the hold the ball up, wait for opponents and team mates to catch up and then pass the ball sideways, allowing any advantage we had to disappear.
"Get stuck in" the bloke behind me shouted, for once making perfect sense. "Yeah" said another bloke "enough of the foreplay, just stick it in". Its easy to say in a game against the league leaders and probably not as simple to do, but it applies to all our games this season. Sometimes we'd be much more effective if we just had a shot rather than trying to create the perfect goal.
As a tactic to try and beat a team that can probably create chances at will, scoring late in the game to set up a grandstand finish is probably as good as any. Unfortunately we left it slightly too late. We only managed one more attack after it was 2-1. Had Hoskins scored his goal a few minutes earlier an unlikely point might have been on.
For the record Williamson was booed but didn't get quite the amount of abuse expected. He didn't celebrate either of their goals and even seemed to fall out with his fellow defenders over our goal. Maybe they thought he was letting us score.
All in all an afternoon to forget. I look forward to things returning to normal against Derby next week.
The officials might as well have taken to the pitch in black and white stripes rather than bright orange. They clearly favoured the big team, looked like they were on first name terms with their players and gave them free kicks every time they fell over. Any similar 'light' challenge on a Watford player went unpunished and we only got something if the foul was particularly nasty. With offsides the linesman on the Rous side ignored most things in the first half but gave everything in the second.
The opposition only really created four chances all afternoon but scored two of them. However, I've no doubt had we managed to get back into the game early enough they would've easily managed to conjure up some more. Its true to say we had the majority of the possession but they seemed content to allow us to pass it between ourselves without ever looking threatening until it was too late.
Sometimes I feel Malky's Watford believe that games are decided on the amount of passes completed rather than goals scored. So often we seem to have the opportunity to break but elect to the hold the ball up, wait for opponents and team mates to catch up and then pass the ball sideways, allowing any advantage we had to disappear.
"Get stuck in" the bloke behind me shouted, for once making perfect sense. "Yeah" said another bloke "enough of the foreplay, just stick it in". Its easy to say in a game against the league leaders and probably not as simple to do, but it applies to all our games this season. Sometimes we'd be much more effective if we just had a shot rather than trying to create the perfect goal.
As a tactic to try and beat a team that can probably create chances at will, scoring late in the game to set up a grandstand finish is probably as good as any. Unfortunately we left it slightly too late. We only managed one more attack after it was 2-1. Had Hoskins scored his goal a few minutes earlier an unlikely point might have been on.
For the record Williamson was booed but didn't get quite the amount of abuse expected. He didn't celebrate either of their goals and even seemed to fall out with his fellow defenders over our goal. Maybe they thought he was letting us score.
All in all an afternoon to forget. I look forward to things returning to normal against Derby next week.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Musical Chairs- Scunthorpe United 2 Watford 2
Here's a great game you can have with unsuspecting away fans. Firstly, print on your tickets 'Please sit in your allocated seat'. Then tell half the fans who enter that actually they can sit wherever they like. Only tell half of them 'cos otherwise the game isn't nearly as much fun. Cordon off just enough of the stand so that there aren't quite enough seats for the amount of tickets you've sold. Finally play some loud music, most of it featuring Cheryl Cole, and intersperse it with farting noises as your sound system slowly packs up. Stand back and watch the ensuing chaos. No-one wins but its great fun.
Welcome to the world of Glanford Park. Actually, apart from this organised chaos its a great little ground. It seems really old fashioned considering it was built in 1988 with some pillars in the way and the seats all crammed close together. But its got more character in one row of seats than some of the new grounds have in their entirety. I'd happily go back time and again. Its also got those rare vital elements that make the matchday experience hassle free. Its very easy to find being just off the end of the M181, it has bags of parking and there are plenty of food options nearby.
The game was quite difficult to follow as the seat I ended up with after musical chairs was directly behind the goal so I saw 90% of the game through the mesh of the net. For the whole game we looked far more dangerous than they did and definitely deserved all three points. Our defence got caught out once by the sort of slick move we're so good at pulling off to go one down. However the only surprise when Danny Graham got the equaliser was how long it had taken us to find the net. He looked so pleased to have got on the scoresheet and those of us in the front rows got to celebrate with him which was nice.
The ref had had an odd game pleasing neither set of fans. However, having seen Cleverley's not so clever challenge I think he was probably right to show the red card. What he definitely got wrong was not to show the Scunthorpe player red as well for the two punches he then threw at Tom as they got back up from the challenge. He was too busy enjoying the theatrics of immediately pulling out his red card to notice that a common assault was going on two feet in front of him.
Even with ten we looked better than them and when Eustace headed us into the lead with just minutes left our end went mad. I never thought I'd use these words in the same sentence but John's celebration was one of the campest I've ever seen by a footballer. I probably wouldn't say that to his face though.
It was the man in black who'd have the last word giving a penalty in dying throws of the game when the ball was kicked into Jay DeMerits face. Even behind the mesh it was apparent this wasn't a deliberate handball and 9 times out of 10 a corner would've been the result. Not for Mr.Theatrics however and although Loach went the right way he couldn't reach the spotkick. There was time for one final bit of controversy as the penalty taker tried to prevent Loach getting the ball out of the goal quickly which resulted in our goalkeeper being floored. Yet, he was the one who got a yellow card.
Both this and the punches on Cleverley can clearly be seen on The Football League Show. It would be nice to think some retrospective action might be taken but I'm sure this would be a pointless waste of a thought.
Welcome to the world of Glanford Park. Actually, apart from this organised chaos its a great little ground. It seems really old fashioned considering it was built in 1988 with some pillars in the way and the seats all crammed close together. But its got more character in one row of seats than some of the new grounds have in their entirety. I'd happily go back time and again. Its also got those rare vital elements that make the matchday experience hassle free. Its very easy to find being just off the end of the M181, it has bags of parking and there are plenty of food options nearby.
The game was quite difficult to follow as the seat I ended up with after musical chairs was directly behind the goal so I saw 90% of the game through the mesh of the net. For the whole game we looked far more dangerous than they did and definitely deserved all three points. Our defence got caught out once by the sort of slick move we're so good at pulling off to go one down. However the only surprise when Danny Graham got the equaliser was how long it had taken us to find the net. He looked so pleased to have got on the scoresheet and those of us in the front rows got to celebrate with him which was nice.
The ref had had an odd game pleasing neither set of fans. However, having seen Cleverley's not so clever challenge I think he was probably right to show the red card. What he definitely got wrong was not to show the Scunthorpe player red as well for the two punches he then threw at Tom as they got back up from the challenge. He was too busy enjoying the theatrics of immediately pulling out his red card to notice that a common assault was going on two feet in front of him.
Even with ten we looked better than them and when Eustace headed us into the lead with just minutes left our end went mad. I never thought I'd use these words in the same sentence but John's celebration was one of the campest I've ever seen by a footballer. I probably wouldn't say that to his face though.
It was the man in black who'd have the last word giving a penalty in dying throws of the game when the ball was kicked into Jay DeMerits face. Even behind the mesh it was apparent this wasn't a deliberate handball and 9 times out of 10 a corner would've been the result. Not for Mr.Theatrics however and although Loach went the right way he couldn't reach the spotkick. There was time for one final bit of controversy as the penalty taker tried to prevent Loach getting the ball out of the goal quickly which resulted in our goalkeeper being floored. Yet, he was the one who got a yellow card.
Both this and the punches on Cleverley can clearly be seen on The Football League Show. It would be nice to think some retrospective action might be taken but I'm sure this would be a pointless waste of a thought.
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