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

[lukey27]

Just put myself through watching the full rerun on Sky having not seen it yesterday.



I thought Bailey looked quite bright when we were in possession but tellingly his best moment came when he came over to the right. He'll want to play there I'd imagine.

His best moment wasn’t the assist then? I haven’t seen anything bar the highlights.

Good run and then a clever pick out for the assist.

But in general terms, there was a moment where him and Traore doubled up on the right and he beat his man with a lovely bit of skill and stood it up.

He looks a real bright spark, but coming in from the right where he can go either way, I imagine will be his position.

If Ings and Watkins play as a two, Bailey in a free role on that side may be our best option. All about getting the balance right though, and we didn't get it right at all yesterday.

[Risso]

Targett had a mare. I hope he’s not a player that prefers behind closed doors games. He did make a somewhat miraculous improvement last season compared to when we had crowds. I’m sure he’ll be fine, it’s just a thought.

The guy playing ahead of him last season usually kept one or two opposition players tied up. Going to take a bit of readjustment for Targett. I'm a bit more worried to read that Cash was poor again yesterday. He was very poor last season when he came back in after injury. If he keeps this up, I'd like to Guilbert given a chance.

Cash was really terrible. It wasn't as obviously appalling as Targett, as Sarr really did make Targett look abysmal, but he literally did nothing right all game. Maybe the Watford chants of "you're just a shit Jack Grealish" whenever he took a throw in got to him?!

[Risso]

Good run and then a clever pick out for the assist.

But in general terms, there was a moment where him and Traore doubled up on the right and he beat his man with a lovely bit of skill and stood it up.

He looks a real bright spark, but coming in from the right where he can go either way, I imagine will be his position.

If Ings and Watkins play as a two, Bailey in a free role on that side may be our best option. All about getting the balance right though, and we didn't get it right at all yesterday.

As others have said, that's a strange bit of business then when we already had Traore there, and where people are saying Buendia's best position is.  I assumed he was brought in to play on the left, because if he doesn't, who is?!

[sickbeggar]

Looking at Bailey's best bits video (yeah yeah) he seems capable of appearing anywhere. He just runs at players and beats them so whether he's on the right, left or middle doesn't seem to matter. He doesn't seem like a proper fixed winger sending in crosses  to me

[eamonn]

But if we only have El Ghazi who is comfortable on the left (and asleep most of the time), it's hard to see where we fit in our three most dangerous creators (Bailey, Buendia and Traore) as well as two players Smith sees as being centre-forwards (Ings and Watkins) when playing two up-front is not de rigeur.

Have we just quickly bought exciting, attacking players knowing Jack is leaving but without working-out how we fit them all in?

[ozzjim]

But if we only have El Ghazi who is comfortable on the left (and asleep most of the time), it's hard to see where we fit in our three most dangerous creators (Bailey, Buendia and Traore) as well as two players Smith sees as being centre-forwards (Ings and Watkins) when playing two up-front is not de rigeur.

Have we just quickly bought exciting, attacking players knowing Jack is leaving but without working-out how we fit them all in?

One of them has to play down the left at times lol. My guess is the 3 will rotate around.

[Pat McMahon]

Lots of negatives yesterday, though it was great to be back at a live game and to see old faces.

A lot of people have summed up the individual failures yesterday, but without rereading the whole thread a real sticking point for me was us losing the ball in dangerous positions on the edge of the Watford area and 10 seconds later conceding a goal without making a challenge - this happened for the 2nd and 3rd goals. We weren’t able to commit fouls early in their breakaway to stop them, then we didn’t get close enough in our own box. I’ve been saying all summer we need a really commanding CDM and yesterday highlighted that. On the plus side the Brazilian fella who runs the coffee shop near our office reckons Luiz was brilliant in that position at the Olympics.

Positives - our substitutions made us better, as did Young nullifying Sarr in 2nd half, McGinn had a decent game and Ings is off the mark. Highlight of the day though was probably the lap of honour and standing ovation for the local NHS staff at half time.

[SoccerHQ]

The writing was on the wall with the selection. El Ghazi can’t play right wing, that’s been obvious whenever we’ve tried him there before. Nakamba’s limitations are always exposed against teams we expect to be on the front foot against. Buendia recovering from injury. Young hasn’t played left wing for about six years? They must have been thrilled to see our lineup.

The Young selection in that position was utterly perplexing. Especially as not an area of the field where we don't have options

I disagree. Go on his thread and loads before yesterday were saying how good he looked in pre season and many were calling for him to start so easy to say it's wrong just because the performance while he was on the pitch was a disaster.

What I said weeks back is anyone expecting him to be on the wing like he was in 2008 is going to be disappointed, he is 36 now after all so really his role in season needs to be last 10 minutes sub for games we're winning to close it out or start on odd occasions at left back which might happen as soon as Saturday the way Targett played yesterday.

[darren woolley]

Disappointed with the result but I was so happy to be in a full ground watching my team I never thought this would happen but I'm so glad to be back.

[The Edge]

Targett had a mare. I hope he’s not a player that prefers behind closed doors games. He did make a somewhat miraculous improvement last season compared to when we had crowds. I’m sure he’ll be fine, it’s just a thought.

The guy playing ahead of him last season usually kept one or two opposition players tied up. Going to take a bit of readjustment for Targett. I'm a bit more worried to read that Cash was poor again yesterday. He was very poor last season when he came back in after injury. If he keeps this up, I'd like to Guilbert given a chance.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Watkins given a runout wide left. His energy and pace would be a massive help to Targett and although a very different player to Grealish he could be very useful for us.

[Hookeysmith]

While I agree with most of the negative comments on here, the fact is that teams can have bad days and come away with at least a draw in games like that. The first goal involved a decent block by Konsa which could have gone anywhere but unfortunately went straight back to their player; the second - well - and the third was class. We were much better in the second half and then got dealt the sucker punch with their third, but McGinn's goal was the best of the match. Factor in Buendia unfit, Bailey only just arrived, Watkins greatly missed and Targett given the runaround, I think we will get much better quickly. Before anyone accuses me of clutching at straws, I don't think I am. We were awful in the first 45, got better but by then the match had got away from us.

I am not very angry yet as I agree with the above post and the more we play this way even Stevie Wonder could see we need a strong CM in there (and Luiz is not the answer) so I'm sure it will be addressed.

I wish also that we were a little more communicative when it comes to injuries, sanson springs to mind.

We must have VP bouncing and punish an awful Newcastle on  Saturday or there could be a confidence crash.

On the absentee front. I see Richarlison played and scored for Everton yesterday even though he was at the Olympics. If he can play why is Dougie not?

[Damo70]

I thought we were God awful yesterday.

[astonvilla82]

Looking back,we had new players coming in and thinking we are moving forward,at first I was a bit angry (insert any swear words you wish to put in trying to cut down on thelanguage) but calmed down now and say it was a bad at the office lessons need to be learnt and hopefully have

[brontebilly]

But if we only have El Ghazi who is comfortable on the left (and asleep most of the time), it's hard to see where we fit in our three most dangerous creators (Bailey, Buendia and Traore) as well as two players Smith sees as being centre-forwards (Ings and Watkins) when playing two up-front is not de rigeur.

Have we just quickly bought exciting, attacking players knowing Jack is leaving but without working-out how we fit them all in?

I don't see much evidence of a plan to be honest. I'm sure all the players we have got are good players in their own right but do they all fit together into a coherent unit. Will be interesting to see how Watkins will be fitted back in.

[Sexual Ealing]

But if we only have El Ghazi who is comfortable on the left (and asleep most of the time), it's hard to see where we fit in our three most dangerous creators (Bailey, Buendia and Traore) as well as two players Smith sees as being centre-forwards (Ings and Watkins) when playing two up-front is not de rigeur.

Have we just quickly bought exciting, attacking players knowing Jack is leaving but without working-out how we fit them all in?

I don't see much evidence of a plan to be honest. I'm sure all the players we have got are good players in their own right but do they all fit together into a coherent unit. Will be interesting to see how Watkins will be fitted back in.

You'd have to be either cynical or brontebilly to think that there isn't a plan. It might turn out to be a bad plan, but Dean isn't in his job by accident, and the people above him would soon turf him out if he was. We had a bad game. It happens.