Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Patino is poor too. Cooper should have been used insteaad
Watford (A)
- Thread starter KVetch
- Start date
The Blobster
Prediction Champ
5 extra mins
Victoria Swan
Key Player
Patino VERY poor!
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Ref bottled the double yellow
Victoria Swan
Key Player
It's actually a three-way race for poorest Swan: Lowe, Patino or Yates!
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Take the draw … comedy of errors in certain players that should have been much better
Victoria Swan
Key Player
Better than a loss but (once again) in the first half we should have put it away.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Allen is showing up our other midfield players. They should be embarrassed
The Blobster
Prediction Champ
An away point always welcome but that should have been 3 points but for lousy finishing.
KVetch
Key Player
We didn't even score, if it wasn't for the own goal we would have lost. We don't get enough shots on the target. We have players that can get the ball up the pitch now, Placheta exceptional compared to what we've had. Just taking on the defenders. Ronald must have been having an off day. Yates is not the answer.
Far from convincing and overall a draw was a fair reflection of the game. They were crap but so were we. Unfortunately it seems that Williams has his favourites at least two of whom are Yates and Powder Puff. Quite why Juventus are tracking Patino is utterly beyond me; he'd never have survived in the Welsh League that I played in - the hatchet men would have been licking their lips. Some Italian defenders/midfielders must be feeling the same about the prospects of him playing in their league.
But, like most football managers, Williams has a blinkered view of certain players and only sees what he wants to see. If he has anything good to say about tonight's performance I'll be interested to hear it. But I thought Cabango had a pretty sound game. Another point, especially away, is very welcome but it could have been three and, as I type, QPR have salavaged a point against WBA, so at least we maintain the status quo with them.
But, like most football managers, Williams has a blinkered view of certain players and only sees what he wants to see. If he has anything good to say about tonight's performance I'll be interested to hear it. But I thought Cabango had a pretty sound game. Another point, especially away, is very welcome but it could have been three and, as I type, QPR have salavaged a point against WBA, so at least we maintain the status quo with them.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
If Williams is at all serious about playing his system, then he really needs to start betting on the horses that can run the race. Cullen, Allen, Cooper with Allen or as a sub for Allen. Basically, we need players that can put in a 90 minute shift at the required level of effort and intensity.
I am / was a big fan of Fulton but he needs to find a higher gear or bring a cushion for the bench, because in the Williams' system his clutch is slipping. He is not a 1-for-1 replacement for Allen in any guise, whereas Cooper has the engine plus some and needs game time.
I don't see why we borrowed the extra Arsenal player ... surely that kid is just as good as Patino. Too often today Patino was not up to speed mentally never mind physically or in terms of intensity. Patino does not have the engine to play Williams' system in any role.
Was Pato really up for today's game?
I am / was a big fan of Fulton but he needs to find a higher gear or bring a cushion for the bench, because in the Williams' system his clutch is slipping. He is not a 1-for-1 replacement for Allen in any guise, whereas Cooper has the engine plus some and needs game time.
I don't see why we borrowed the extra Arsenal player ... surely that kid is just as good as Patino. Too often today Patino was not up to speed mentally never mind physically or in terms of intensity. Patino does not have the engine to play Williams' system in any role.
Was Pato really up for today's game?
Apart from the point, there was little cheer for us tonight - we even had to rely on Watford scoring a freak og for us to salvage said point. This is NOT good enough. Have we flattered to deceive? How come Watford played the second half bursting with pace and energy whilst we plodded through the game in our usual pedestrian way? Some stats:
POSSESSION: 37-63 SHOTS: 19-11 OT: 3-2 CORNERS: 9-3 FOULS: 18-10 GOALS: 1-1
Note that yet again a team with far less of the ball than us comprehensively outshot us and with their limited possession still managed to win 9 corners to our 3!! In that second period we had problems passing the ball and created virtually fuck all. And who are the creators in a football team? It's usually the midfield and ours just aren't getting the job done - something I've been banging on about for so long.
Posters, including me, have given Yates pelters but let's face it, the poor sod was given virtually NOTHING tonight by way of chances. He must be cursing the day he ever set eyes on our so-called midfield. He proved he could score in a poor Blackpool team but they sure must have been outperforming our lot in creating stuff for him. If Williams hasn't seen this then he's not fit to be our manager. He admitted again tonight post match that our second periods have been very poor and that we must find another way.
What other way? We've shown first half dominance in our last three games, so why can't we just continue to do the same in the second half? There has to be a reason why we don't and it's HIS job to find the answer. I still think that part of the answer is fitness levels. Sure, our passing falls away, we fail to retain possession etc etc and that's because tired legs won't move to find space for passes and players start making fewer runs because they can't. I get that it's not all down to fitness and there are also other reasons, so Luke Williams had better take a hard look at his squad then decide who's up for it and who's not.
POSSESSION: 37-63 SHOTS: 19-11 OT: 3-2 CORNERS: 9-3 FOULS: 18-10 GOALS: 1-1
Note that yet again a team with far less of the ball than us comprehensively outshot us and with their limited possession still managed to win 9 corners to our 3!! In that second period we had problems passing the ball and created virtually fuck all. And who are the creators in a football team? It's usually the midfield and ours just aren't getting the job done - something I've been banging on about for so long.
Posters, including me, have given Yates pelters but let's face it, the poor sod was given virtually NOTHING tonight by way of chances. He must be cursing the day he ever set eyes on our so-called midfield. He proved he could score in a poor Blackpool team but they sure must have been outperforming our lot in creating stuff for him. If Williams hasn't seen this then he's not fit to be our manager. He admitted again tonight post match that our second periods have been very poor and that we must find another way.
What other way? We've shown first half dominance in our last three games, so why can't we just continue to do the same in the second half? There has to be a reason why we don't and it's HIS job to find the answer. I still think that part of the answer is fitness levels. Sure, our passing falls away, we fail to retain possession etc etc and that's because tired legs won't move to find space for passes and players start making fewer runs because they can't. I get that it's not all down to fitness and there are also other reasons, so Luke Williams had better take a hard look at his squad then decide who's up for it and who's not.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
I found last night's match too tedious to watch without being easily distracted. Frankly, there was more entertainment on our forum postings. That said, after two matches with Williams' system in something close to realization, we can now start to see the wheat from the chaff ... those players that can versus those that can't and those that struggle. Those that can, should be part of a promotion squad. The others, bye, bye!. We have probably one more good season from Allen at his current burn rate. Sad to say. Probably the same with Naughton. But the class in those two shines through clearly when we're playing football that's a level above pedestrian ... the way we were playing under Madness and the haphazard manner under Duff. It's almost like Allen and Naughton have this sweet spot we've slipped "up" into. Pato may have another season in him, but he's not the solution at #10 as much as he may appear to be now. Ideally, the Williams #10 has to be a box-2-box midfield player and this is not Pato.
Given where we are in the table, I think it's time for Williams to start playing Cooper regularly when resting Pato and or Allen. After last night's showing, to play Patino ahead of Cooper is insulting. As insulting as playing Yates ahead of Cullen. We need players on the field that are capable of delivering for us now, not potentially in 3 to 5 years for another club. Similarly, why bring in another Arsenal kid when we have Congreve - unless he's been sulking in the U21, surely there's as much meat on that bone as there is on either of the Arsenal kids.
And FFS, let's see more of big Myk instead of Yates. I'm sure Big Myk can work just as "hard" if not "harder" if nothing else.
As @ivoralljack numbers indicate, Watford achieved more from less, much more. A familiar tune. Was this an off night or did we take two steps backwards. The midfield of Grimes-Fulton-Pato is sub par and worse than watching water boil especially after seeing and comparing it to an Allen based midfield. C'mon Williams, figure it out.
Given where we are in the table, I think it's time for Williams to start playing Cooper regularly when resting Pato and or Allen. After last night's showing, to play Patino ahead of Cooper is insulting. As insulting as playing Yates ahead of Cullen. We need players on the field that are capable of delivering for us now, not potentially in 3 to 5 years for another club. Similarly, why bring in another Arsenal kid when we have Congreve - unless he's been sulking in the U21, surely there's as much meat on that bone as there is on either of the Arsenal kids.
And FFS, let's see more of big Myk instead of Yates. I'm sure Big Myk can work just as "hard" if not "harder" if nothing else.
As @ivoralljack numbers indicate, Watford achieved more from less, much more. A familiar tune. Was this an off night or did we take two steps backwards. The midfield of Grimes-Fulton-Pato is sub par and worse than watching water boil especially after seeing and comparing it to an Allen based midfield. C'mon Williams, figure it out.
CroJack
Key Player
Pato is not the problem. He is our most creative player. Even yesterday, when he obviously had an off-day, he created one of our big chances. Let's not forget he was carrying a knock from the Blackburn game. He has created the most chances this season and has the most key passes per game. Tied with Grimes for most tackles per game.
Yates and Lowe are the problem, they've missed 16 big chances this season.
I'm going to analyse the last three second halves to see what the problem is.
Yates and Lowe are the problem, they've missed 16 big chances this season.
I'm going to analyse the last three second halves to see what the problem is.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Pato is aging out as is Allen and Naughton, all be at different rates. They are a problem ... or a challenge if you prefer. We need to blood replacements. Since this season is a dead loss, now would be the best time, so that we can hit next season running with a coherent squad where Allen, Naughton, Pato are back-ups not main stays. We have opposition with experienced players 10 years younger playing in those positions.
Williams needs to remove his blinkers, stop playing his favourites and be more flexible with his tactical approach by selecting his best players in their strongest positions. THEN AND ONLY THEN devise a playing system that suits the strengths of the individuals in his team. He's not on the pitch playing the game; his players are the ones doing that. So play a system that they're happy with and not one that suits him on paper.