Watford 3-2 Aston Villa 15/16 tribute act post match thread.

[Pete3206]

The El Ghazi pile on although not altogether unjustified, suggests that others are not deserving of the same treatment. They are.

I'm struggling to remember a worse first half team performance in recent years. As the thread title suggests, this was like a throwback to half a decade ago.

[ChicagoLion]

No idea how anyone could watch that and not think he need some midfield strength brought in.

And how long has this been said, ever since we have been in the PL under Smith. He obviously does not see it as a priority, if he did surely by now he would have made sure we had solved the problem.

[Bobby Boy]

The El Ghazi pile on although not altogether unjustified, suggests that others are not deserving of the same treatment. They are.

I'm struggling to remember a worse first half team performance in recent years. As the thread title suggests, this was like a throwback to half a decade ago.

El Ghazi did well to score 10 league goals last season but he is anonymous and ineffective far too often.

We must get beyond starting him if we want to improve that's for sure.

[BC Villain]

A performance that will give the "Smith is useless without Grealish" brigade all of the ammunition they need.

Showed some spirit towards the end (shouldn't have to wait until your three down to do that mind) but we looked undercooked and half-asleep for large periods of that game.

A MASSIVE wakeup call to Dean Smith for me.  NSWE have backed him to the hilt so far.  They won't tolerate many more days like today

[ChicagoLion]

It was a predictable safety first Smith team selection. Again when it’s not working Smith watches us go 2 nil down before reacting.

[rougegorge]

By the time the second half started and we had changed things around, the horse, or specifically Sarr had bolted.

The second half was ok, but nothing more.

El Ghazi is so much a confidence player. He can play but when he doesn’t…

Still not convinced with Nakamba and I am just assuming and hoping Buendia has much more to offer than what I saw today.

[Bobby Boy]

No idea how anyone could watch that and not think he need some midfield strength brought in.

And how long has this been said, ever since we have been in the PL under Smith. He obviously does not see it as a priority, if he did surely by now he would have made sure we had solved the problem.

This is our single biggest issue and as has been said has been so for years.

I just don't understand how the coaching staff can't see it. It is holding us back.

If you can't dominate midfield then there's only so far you can go.

[Nev]

A game where Targett and Cash looked like shadows of their former selves, a deflected goal, a player scoring a worldie with his first touch after not starting for 4 years, Mike Dean and playing a promoted club in the first game.
Throw in a half arsed performance and the result was inevitable.

[wince]

Smiths reckon we had a plan and is chucking players under the bus by the sound of if. Doesn’t expect it to take time at all. Oh dear

[Risso]

The trouble with the midfield is that John McGinn is a good footballer, being asked to do a job that doesn't suit him by sitting in front of the back four. That is is role that Nakamba is used to, he's just not good enough at it for a team with ideas of pushing for Europe. It doesn't especially suit Luiz either, so the absolutely really, really obvious solution is to buy somebody's who is much better than Nakamba in that role.

[Bobby Boy]

The trouble with the midfield is that John McGinn is a good footballer, being asked to do a job that doesn't suit him by sitting in front of the back four. That is is role that Nakamba is used to, he's just not good enough at it for a team with ideas of pushing for Europe. It doesn't especially suit Luiz either, so the absolutely really, really obvious solution is to buy somebody's who is much better than Nakamba in that role.

Absolutely!

[Tuscans]

The trouble with the midfield is that John McGinn is a good footballer, being asked to do a job that doesn't suit him by sitting in front of the back four. That is is role that Nakamba is used to, he's just not good enough at it for a team with ideas of pushing for Europe. It doesn't especially suit Luiz either, so the absolutely really, really obvious solution is to buy somebody's who is much better than Nakamba in that role.

Hence the strong links with Anguissa and Doucoure.

[Skerra]

I see we’ve started well with our “winnable” games run!

[dorsetvillian]

On way home. Just hoping the performance was mainly down to the poor pre season. You could have  taken off any outfield player   after the first half. We looked a couple of weeks away from being ready for competitive games. Really poor..

[PaulWinch again]

Not good enough clearly. As I thought pre-match we seem underprepared. Need to turn it round sharpish.