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Hornets contrive to lose at death
7:29pm Saturday 1st December 2007
Comments (74)WATFORD looked to have snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat but incredibly contrived to throw even that away as they slumped to their third successive defeat in front of the nation with a 2-1 televised loss against Bristol City tonight (Saturday).
Enoch Showunmi's 75th minute header looked to be enough to earn the visitors their first win in six until John-Joe O'Toole, two minutes after entering the fray, popped up in the six-yard box to flick home his first senior goal with four minutes remaining.
But having got themselves back on terms, the Hornets simply switched off in the third of four minutes of injury-time, allowing City's own super-sub Darren Byfield to scramble in the winner.
Perhaps surprisingly given Watford's dire showing against Burnley, Aidy Boothroyd chose to make just the one change, but it was a significant one. Jobi McAnuff, who has not started a game since mid-September, recovered from his injury lay-off to replace Steve Kabba, who did not make the bench. Tamas Priskin and Damien Francis also failed to make the matchday 16, but new loan signing Lionel Ainsworth and O'Toole were on a bench that did not include a replacement keeper.
Former Hornets Academy boss Gary Johnson also made just the one change from the side that was held to a goalless draw by Hull City in mid-week, but that was enforced, with Jamie McCombe coming in for the suspended Jamie McAllister.
Watford showed their intent from the outset, with Darius Henderson nipping in to win the ball from City's kick-off and setting up an attack which, unfortunately, came to nothing.
The Hornets maintained their up-tempo approach with some neat inter-play between Tommy Smith, McAnuff and Henderson setting up Smith for a crossing opportunity after five minutes.
However, the home side survived their first scare from City's first corner two minutes later. Mart Poom failed to get to a Michael McIndoe in-swinging set-piece from the left, but Marvin Elliott's header was deflected over.
It then took a fine Poom stop to prevent the visitors from taking a tenth-minute lead. Gavin Mahon swung and missed an attempted clearance around 30 yards out, Elliott got hold of the bouncing ball to slide a pass inside to Ivan Sproule, but the Hornets stopper was quickly off his line to block at the player's feet.
Sproule had another opening soon after, cutting back into the area from the left to send an angled shot wide of Poom's far post, as the visitors continued to hold the early upper hand.
McAnuff had Watford's first shot after 14 minutes, latching onto Adriano Basso's poor clearance to cut into the area from the left before hitting a low right-footed drive which the keeper saved at his near post.
That opening swung the game back in the home side's favour and they had another chance three minutes later. McAnuff capitalised on Sproule's poor pass behind Bradley Orr to send over a left-footed cross, which Henderson battled for at the far post and the ball sat up invitingly for Smith, who hit a left-footed effort high and wide of the target.
But the Hornets had another let-off after 26 minutes when a cross was stood up from near the touchline and Showunmi sent a looping header from around eight yards out beyond Poom and off his right-hand post.
David Noble was the next to chance his arm with an ambitious long-range effort, but City were still looking the more convincing side, particularly when they were in possession.
However, that didn't stop the Hornets from almost taking the lead on the half-hour. Marlon King was sent clear on the right and he struck a powerful lob that cleared Basso, but rebounded out off the face of the bar and McAnuff's prodded follow-up was blocked by the keeper's legs.
Another opportunity came and went two minutes later when Henderson played the ball inside to Lee Williamson, who struck a fizzing 20-yard rising drive narrowly wide of Basso's left-hand upright.
But with half-time looming, there was a bizarre example of player power. A McIndoe corner from the left was glanced on by Gavon Mahon and went out of play without touching another player. Referee Phil Joslin initially awarded a throw-in to the Hornets but, on the say so of three City players, changed his mind, much to the annoyance of the faithful in the Rookery.
City started the second period positively, with Poom less than convincing in dealing with their first corner after the break.
But Watford were very unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty after 52 minutes. A free-kick routine near the edge of the area saw the ball worked square to Mahon, who stood it up to the far post where Dan Shittu headed back into the danger zone and a red-sleeved arm was certainly raised, prompting vociferous, but unsuccessful, appeals by the home side.
King then saw a shot blocked through to Basso as the Hornets continued to look to up the ante, with Boothroyd arriving on the sidelines just short of the hour-mark to spur his side on.
They weren't too far away after 63 minutes when Smith's left-footed reverse pass sent King racing clear, but the striker fired an angled drive into the side netting.
Showunmi was the recipient of the game's first yellow card soon after for catching Shittu while jumping for the ball, but the Hornets then had another good opening when another good Smith pass released Henderson on the left side of the area. McAnuff appeared to be pushed over as he sought to latch onto the cut-back, but the ball broke for King, who scuffed an effort off target.
And the Hornets' joint top-scorer completed a quick-fire hat-trick of attempts off target after 68 minutes when he fired an angled effort high and wide after Henderson had knocked a cross down into his path.
Watford might have had another penalty after 71 minutes when McAnuff went down in the area under Orr's challenge, but the referee instead decided the Hornets winger had dived and booked him.
City made the game's first change soon after - and it was a positive one - with Lee Trundle replacing Noble, and then Jordan Stewart's run into the area ended with a shot that Basso grasped at the second attempt.
Henderson quickly followed McAnuff into the referee's notebook for an over-zealous challenge on McCombe, but that was to be the Watford striker's last involvement as he was replaced by Nathan Ellington soon after.
But having bossed the majority of the second-half, the Hornets were stung with 15 minutes remaining. A McIndoe cross from the left found three City players queuing up unmarked at the back post and Showunmi won the race, heading down inside Poom's near post to net the visitors' first goal in five games.
Cole Skuse then came on for Sproule, and he supplied the ball which ended with Showunmi thumping a volley wide of the near post with 11 minutes remaining.
O'Toole came on for Mahon with 84 minutes on the clock, as City increasingly indulged in playing keep ball.
Watford were finally awarded their first corner with four minutes remaining and from it came a moment one young man will never forget. Following Williamson's ball in from the right, Jay DeMerit flung himself forward on the right side of the area to head back into the six-yard box where O'Toole flicked the ball past Basso to net his first senior club goal, almost two weeks after breaking his international duck.
It could have got even better for the home side moments later when King cut the ball back to Williamson on the right side of the area, but he snatched an effort off target.
But with a point seemingly in the back, the Hornets shot themselves in the foot in the third of four minutes of injury-time. Watford failed to react after Poom had palmed away McIndoe's ball in from the left, and when the cross came back in from the other side substitute Byfield, who had been on the pitch for less than two minutes, scrambled the ball in.
That signaled a mass exodus from Vicarage Road, but even then Watford might still have earned a point. Shittu headed a cross from the left down into the path of King, but, after getting the ball under control, he skied an effort into the stands to ensure the league leaders' dismal run continued.
Watford: Poom; Doyley, DeMerit, Shittu, Stewart; Smith, Williamson, Mahon (O'Toole, 84), McAnuff; King, Henderson (Ellington, 74). Not used: Jackson, Mariappa and Ainsworth.
Bristol City: Basso; Orr, Carey, McCombe, Fontaine; Sproule (Skuse, 77), Johnson, Elliott, McIndoe; Noble (Trundle, 71); Showunmi (Byfield, 90). Not used: Vasko and Weale.
Bookings: Showunmi for a foul on Shittu after 64 mins; McAnuff for simulation after 71 mins; Henderson for a foul on McCombe after 73 mins.
Attendance: 16,689.
Referee: Phil Joslin.
Your Say YourTimes Series
smiler, bretagne says...
7:39pm Sat 1 Dec 07
anonnnnymouse, crying in the dark says...
7:39pm Sat 1 Dec 07
smiler wrote:err, the other team scored a goal!
Gutted, but that's football. Come on the boys....and the gaffer. I could only follow by text, and was so happy with only a minute to go......then...what happened.
ozzy, kingg cros says...
7:45pm Sat 1 Dec 07
smiler wrote:whu put yu in charge. colni predikted a lose, i say colni shuld be in charge>
If any doom and gloom merchants, comment on here I will have the post removed.....we want positive from now on, not just from the team, but from every corner. Justified comments OK, attacks on the manager etc...I will have removed.
Mike Ashcroft, London says...
7:49pm Sat 1 Dec 07
jon Allen, says...
7:57pm Sat 1 Dec 07
andy, oxhey says...
8:17pm Sat 1 Dec 07
Jimmy, Scotland says...
8:21pm Sat 1 Dec 07
Mark, Watford says...
8:35pm Sat 1 Dec 07
To be honest we hardly want to get promoted at this rate!"
disapointed, says...
8:41pm Sat 1 Dec 07
I am fed up, have been a supporter for 40 years but the spin that comes from hoofers is leaving a sour taste in my mouth, please just be honest and play to the abilities of the team you have produced.
Percy Veer, swanage says...
8:55pm Sat 1 Dec 07
Roy Stockdill, says...
9:07pm Sat 1 Dec 07
perry digweed, Towcester says...
9:17pm Sat 1 Dec 07
flyinghornet, watford says...
9:23pm Sat 1 Dec 07
John, Watford says...
9:29pm Sat 1 Dec 07
Mind you even the guys behind me who support Aidy admitted its too predictable!
Rhys, says...
9:37pm Sat 1 Dec 07
I know we will not have the best technical players but surely our mob can PASS the ball?
Keith, St Albans says...
9:39pm Sat 1 Dec 07
This is his 1st spell of pressure and at the moment its getting to him!
He does not want a reputation as an one season wonder....
Wayne, Watford says...
9:46pm Sat 1 Dec 07
karen, watford says...
9:53pm Sat 1 Dec 07
chrisp, \kings langley says...
10:25pm Sat 1 Dec 07
Yes there was some passion and effort today, but yet again we get passed off the pitch by a side who put three centre backs and three pacey midfielders and an awkward centre forward in play. Their passing is crisp and to feet, ours is hurried and bobbling with no control. Our answer is to just hoof the ball up the middle, everything played at chest height or above. When will Marlon or Hendo ever get a threaded pass???. Utterly hopeless and hapless. How the hell are we still top of this league playing this absolute rubbish? Answers please on a postcard, addressed to Aidy Boothroyd, Watford FC, Vicarage rd.......
nottsbaggie, nottingham says...
10:38pm Sat 1 Dec 07
JohnBoy, Bushey says...
10:57pm Sat 1 Dec 07
nottsbaggie wrote:Well we hammered Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. How did you do?
Funny how you Watford fans don't like your style of play now you aren't winning every week eh! Oh well, at least you are the Man U of the Championship ;-)
Paul, says...
10:59pm Sat 1 Dec 07
ldi! What the f are we stillplaying Mahon and Williamsn 4? Rinaldi p***es on both of these players so why isn't he even near the teaM. I'm losing patience with boothroyd who seems to adopt this Perryman favourite philosophy. How the hell did Kabba get in front of Rinaldi????? F*** me it's so simple!
Watford Boy, Kings Cross says...
11:36pm Sat 1 Dec 07
I can understand the frustration but still don't get the booing. I stayed to clap them off. We're a team.
john Sutton, Sutton says...
11:44pm Sat 1 Dec 07
Mark, Watford says...
12:21am Sun 2 Dec 07
Where is Colin - I'd thought he would be here by now as we lost and he would QUITE RIGHLTY have somethings to complain about...
paul, hemel says...
12:52am Sun 2 Dec 07
smiler, bretagne says...
8:44am Sun 2 Dec 07
Old-timer, Middx says...
8:49am Sun 2 Dec 07
I believe Boothroyd has coaching abilities but thus far apart from seeing who can hit the floodlights the team seem unable to pass and keep possession.
Incidentally welcome back Ken from Swanage (another longtime sufferer like me since 1946!).
Roll on 50 points and see what happens then.
Berks 'Orn, London says...
9:08am Sun 2 Dec 07
HOWEVER....this is now more than a blip and Aidy must take some action immediately.
1. Mahon must surely now be dropped. We looked a million times better with O'Toole on the pitch.
2. Difficult as it must be Aidy has to holds his hands up and admit he got it wrong with Ellington. It's embarassing. He makes Mahon look like Pele. He looks like he's actually never played football before. I'm afraid he should never pull on a Watford jersey ever again.
Mark, Watford says...
9:15am Sun 2 Dec 07
smiler, bretagne says...
10:03am Sun 2 Dec 07
Realist, harrow says...
10:27am Sun 2 Dec 07
Keep taking the medication!
chris, the vic says...
10:33am Sun 2 Dec 07
I think it is very hard to blame Gavin except in their penalty area he stood up and was counted and Lee was out of sorts. Maybe we need to start with O Toole and Francis but my biggest gripe is with Aidy. I know Darius got booked but he was going to be subbed whatever and he was winning ball whereas Marlon played without his shooting boots and very much vision today..I think Aidy must base his substitutions either on strategy or what he sees NOT what he wants to see. As for Ellington I think he plays exactly like a man who hasnt played much for two years..which is how it is. He comes on for 10 or a max of 30 mins if he is really lucky and struggles.
I really think Aidy is handling this badly. I would like to see the Duke go out on loan and get six/eight game under his belt in the next month or so and then bring him back..until then i am reluctant to judge him. Up until yesterday I wasnt very impressed by our other big signing McAnuff but with a couple more games and a bit of confidence I can see him doing well.
The defence had their moments and for once LLoyd had a tough day but he stuck in. Danny and Jay played OK a couple of mistakes but otherwise getting back to where we need them..shame Danny will be off for 6 weeks soon. Jordan was great and bad so not a lot has changed and Poom messed a cross or two but mad a save or two and deserves to be between the posts. Tommy as with Jordan contributed highs and lows and O Toole did enough to start next week.
As for our friend in Bretagne there are positives to be taken from the game but the real problem is the way we play..when we had Ashley, Hameur or Adam we had a good foil to the long ball this is missing at the moment.
When GT introduced the style we had players at this level with the skills of Barnes, Callaghan,Jenkins, Blissett, Johnson, Falco, Bardsley etc and defenders like John Mc these were players with real talent who could compete at the highest level and in so doing cause teams undue problems..It is a ver big ask for this team and Aidy must develop Plan B and Plan C . With our squad in this league we should with maybe a couple of signings and a wise loan or two be able to manage that.
Berks 'Orn, says...
10:33am Sun 2 Dec 07
paul, hemel says...
10:55am Sun 2 Dec 07
Berks 'Orn wrote:All over them eh.... Interesting view. could u send me a video of the game u saw as I must have been at a different game. I saw one decent passing move and that was King and Hendo in 1st half (which interestingly was the only time it went to feet ove 90mins!) the rest was shocking...
Can't believe we lost after being all over them. This was actually better than mid-week and we deserved to win. We strung together some great moves. HOWEVER....this is now more than a blip and Aidy must take some action immediately. 1. Mahon must surely now be dropped. We looked a million times better with O'Toole on the pitch. 2. Difficult as it must be Aidy has to holds his hands up and admit he got it wrong with Ellington. It's embarassing. He makes Mahon look like Pele. He looks like he's actually never played football before. I'm afraid he should never pull on a Watford jersey ever again.
Berks 'Orn, London says...
11:15am Sun 2 Dec 07
smiler, bretagne says...
11:22am Sun 2 Dec 07
Hey those were the days. I agree no worries then and the confidence.....footb
all has changed so much now though. We have the making with the lads now....
smiler, bretagne says...
11:28am Sun 2 Dec 07
As for our friend in Bretagne there are positives to be taken from the game but the real problem is the way we play..when we had Ashley, Hameur or Adam we had a good foil to the long ball this is missing at the moment.
When GT introduced the style we had players at this level with the skills of Barnes, Callaghan,Jenkins, Blissett, Johnson, Falco, Bardsley etc and defenders like John Mc these were players
Pete, Watford says...
12:19pm Sun 2 Dec 07
Paul, Watford says...
12:20pm Sun 2 Dec 07
Any good team starts from being solid at the back, and we are nowhere near that at the moment. The defence is weak with the likes of Jordan 'I'm worth nowhere near what I think I am' Stewart, and I'm afraid to say Shittu. The guy is big and strong yes, but too often slow to react and often looks lazy. We had a great defender and leader in Carlisle who should have been kept and given the chance. And now when Danny heads off we have inadequate cover.
Then we get to the midfield which provides no protection for a fragile defence. Mahon is way out of form, but you've got to feel for the guy who is constantly being put in a team that doesn't use it's midfield and instead makes the guy look worse and worse. Adie also has his head in the clouds with his claims over Williamson who is too weak and doesn't create enough.
We have a player in Rinaldi who has passing ability, touch and vision but is being left to rot in the reserves. It's no wonder his form has started to drop for them - why should he bother, he is clearly never given a chance. We can still play a more direct style of football, and there's no reason why it won't get us up, but you've got to have something creative in midfield to mix it up. Every game there will be 1 or 2 moves where we play quick passing football on the floor and it looks exciting and gets the crowd really going. We have enough ability in the 'squad' to do this more often, but the personnel in the team needs to change. We are too predictable and the early fear factor teams had playing us has evaporated.
Adie is running out of time to stop this becoming a serious rot. This time next week we will be out of the automatic spots as we play on Sunday and then the real pressure will mount.
neil, london says...
12:51pm Sun 2 Dec 07
Yes Ellington has played football before - quite a lot actually - he was championship top scorer 2 years ago. He's a good player - i remember Arsenal fans moaning about Henry when he joined because he didnt score till 3 months in.
Fact 2 - Boothroyd took our small town club t promotion when we where favourites for relegation- and now we are top of the championship having got more points last season than Taylor did in 1999-2000. Even if we finish 7th- who wouldn't have taken that when Boothroyd took over. Be a bit more realistic we are over achieving as it is, just enjoy the fact that we are top and in with a chance of going up- Lewington wasnt exactly likely to take us here was he?
hertshorn, says...
12:59pm Sun 2 Dec 07
colin, says...
2:15pm Sun 2 Dec 07
We've won only 4 home games all season. We haven't won at home since mid October. In the last. We have conceded 13 goals in the last five games.
Since Johnson went our strikers have failed to find the net. We have won only once in the last six games. 4 of those games have ended in defeat and we have lost 3 on the bounce.
Now clearly this is more than a "blip". This is a crisis...
Performance wise the team are performing in the same manner as they were earlier in the season. The difference now is that we have lost the fear factor and teams have wised up to our approach.
Boofers has no plan B. Clearly. He is not learning from his mistakes and seems unable to explain why the team has gone on a losing run.
He persists with the same dull team elections week in, week out. Surely after a run like this changes need to be made. MacAnuff is not the answer. He is light weight with no end product, unable to get in behind defences hence why the strikers drift out wide.
Mahon and Williamson are simply an embarassment but I bet they start the next two games.
Boothryod is awful. His signings have flopped and he had presided over an exodus of genuine talent and replaced them with sub standard signings.
Next week we could be out of the top six altogether and only then will people really start to sit up. At the moment the memories o two seasons ago are still shielding him from major critism.
I suspect now that even Mr Simpson must be having doubts. If Boothroyd does not go we will only barely finish in mid table this season and next season will be a relegation battle.
If the board are serious about a top ten premiership finish then they need to put this guy out of his misery. He cannot handle the pressure and has lost the plot in a major way. We also must ask questions about the quality of the coaching staff too...what exactly is Mr Burkinshaw contributing?
I predict a close defeat at Colchester followed by a thrashing at Stoke.
Nothing will change until there is a change of manager.
Boothroyd out!
Johnson in....
johnny b, bushey says...
2:34pm Sun 2 Dec 07
Good to have you back mate.....
Are you ever going to give an answer,to the question i keep asking,which was what it was that made you want to be a watford fan..
If you don,t fancy putting it over in print,maybe we could meet up at colchester on tuesday or stoke next week,and have a chat..
Laters Kev,sorry colin
4boys, Hemel says...
3:04pm Sun 2 Dec 07
Many fans are coming away wondering as I do what we actually do in training because most of this lot look like theyve never played together before. Please play some football on the deck we actually look half decent when we do.
As for Stewart? he obviously has lost all interest in playing for us so why is he still being picked
Luther, top of the world says...
3:49pm Sun 2 Dec 07
One; We're top of the league
Two; After we took off Mahon, we looked considerably better. JJ looked more creative and followed up with the second ball, rather than Gavin, who seemed to stand in midfield and watch the game go by.
Three; the January transfer window is around the corner. If we can shore up the defence (Jordan Stewart) and use more imaginative players in midfield, then I can see us getting back to winning ways.
Alex, Watford says...
4:19pm Sun 2 Dec 07
hertshorn, herts says...
4:29pm Sun 2 Dec 07
the point is that we are all in this together, and that includes the fans as much as anybody. Does booing the team, leaving the ground early, not going to matches, posting negative comments, etc etc help us to win matches? Of course we have a right to express our different opinions on formation, tactics, team selection and so on, but at the end of it all, we should all be pulling in the same direction, and Aidy is a professional, dedicated to getting success. We should not be panicking when we are top of the league! A win will come sooner or later and we will be back on track. Everyone needs to get behind the manager and players (whoever is selected).
chrisp, kings langley says...
4:33pm Sun 2 Dec 07
Last week a WFC supporter went into a garage and there filling up is yer star man Marlon King. WFC supporter says to him,
"what you need is a decent midfielder who can pass to feet"
Marlon smiles and replies "You said that I can't"
Mark, Watford says...
4:42pm Sun 2 Dec 07
Paul, Watford says...
5:36pm Sun 2 Dec 07
SENSIBLE wrote:I take issue with people lumping me in with Colin here. I'm giving my opinion on what I see as the team's weaknesses because after all we have had a poor run of form recently. I only want the team to do well too, as do all of us. Part of football is about the banter discussing what is right and wrong about your team. It's what you talk about down the pub, and here on these message boards.
hertshorn--wise words but arging with a fool is foolish.
clearly colon ,alex,paul.old tosser,& co just want to decry & damage.
Yes we have become very predictable but confidence is current problem..LW has caused the team to misfire I feel & i blame aidy for not changing it ...BUT....We R TOP!
INCREDIBLE that any SENSIBLE LONG TERM FAN POSTS SUCH STUPID
"ANTI" Stuff -at least colin the cretin admits he rarely goes! This whole site (like the WO) has become pointless.
I am certainly not "ANTI" Watford or Adie otherwise I wouldn't support them, but I think some of the players should be dropped for their own good and that of the team. We all want the team to win after all. I wish people would stop getting so upset and personal whenever anybody has a criticism of a player etc. Keep the debate on the team rather than each other.
ade, bushey says...
6:26pm Sun 2 Dec 07
Percy Veer, Swanage says...
6:44pm Sun 2 Dec 07
ozzy, kings cross says...
7:02pm Sun 2 Dec 07
johnny b wrote:jonnie B
Colin, Good to have you back mate..... Are you ever going to give an answer,to the question i keep asking,which was what it was that made you want to be a watford fan.. If you don,t fancy putting it over in print,maybe we could meet up at colchester on tuesday or stoke next week,and have a chat.. Laters Kev,sorry colin
I wil have a drink wit u. were do u fancie?? moon undrr watre?
let me no if ur intressted.
johnny B, Bushey says...
7:07pm Sun 2 Dec 07
Sounds good mate, bit like old times eh? Wednesday night ok with you my old mucker?
Must admit i could really do with the company these days.
dave, sandridge says...
7:13pm Sun 2 Dec 07
johnny B wrote:I think you two need to get a room!
Oz
Sounds good mate, bit like old times eh? Wednesday night ok with you my old mucker?
Must admit i could really do with the company these days.
Graham, Hazlemere says...
7:19pm Sun 2 Dec 07
Transfers in have been abysmal with one exception ( MK) & if things continue he may well look to move on out of pure frustration at wasting his skills in a poor team. I am afraid Aidy cannot pick a player. The best thing to be made from a pigs ear is a pigs ear and we have had more pigs ears than my local butcher(Stewart,Cava
li,Siena
Ashikodi, Hoskin, Williamson, Mcanuff - too many to mention)
Tactically we are an embarrassment and having rode our luck on a number of occasions in the first 12 games even that has deserted us. There is just no possession or passion. I would love to know how many restarts result in the other team getting the ball. Must be over 90% overall & nearer 100% for throw ins. On the right must be Doyley to throw & on the left we have two set pieces Mahon to opposition or Shittu to opposition.
The midfield is woeful & while I would prefer Jon Joe even he lacks pace. We are just a one tactic one formation team. Why not try 4 3 3 for a change - we just try chinese water torture tactics doing the same thing time and time again - how many free kick routines do we have???
We have supposedly creamed off all the best back room coaching talent in the country - has anyone told them where the training ground is??
We need someone to sit in front of the defence ( hopefully Bangura will get a chance to stay & play). Ditch the wide players because even when Smith gets agood cross in no one makes a decent run or takes up a position to take advantage. Smith or Rinaldi playing behind King & A>N>Other ( not convinced on Duke or Hendo at present) My choice would be Theo but we have let him go on loan to the season end - if only over clubs( Midboro) were as generous( read naive) as us!
I heard at the Fans Forum we were changing slowly to a game that would suit the Premier - what I didn't realise was that it was the Blue Square one! That said I've watched Staines & Harrogate deliver a better passing game than we have manged all season!
New Goalkeeper
Doyley
Parkes
Mariappa
Demerit
Bangura
Francis
New central midfielder
Smith
KING
Robinson
and a heap of tactics.
Have the balls Aidy - I'm all for loyalty but not blind stubborness - the belief will be gone if we don't see you make improvements & quick
johnny b, bushey says...
7:43pm Sun 2 Dec 07
Is that you playing silly buggers pretending to be me..
I think it might be as theres so many spelling mistakes..
Put on your spell checker,oh king of kenelworth road..
Mark, Watford says...
8:03pm Sun 2 Dec 07
colin, says...
10:38pm Sun 2 Dec 07
You really are a paranoid little nerd aren't you?
Check your own spelling pal.
If you want to publicly ask strange men out for a drink, then don't be surprised when people start taking the ****.
You loser.
kris, . says...
10:47pm Sun 2 Dec 07
johnny b., says...
11:52pm Sun 2 Dec 07
I,m so sorry you **** love monster..
Just trying to make you jealous..
Same time,same place,next week yeah..
oh by the way,just read your oh so positive comments about palace,and you spell coffee with 2 f,s,which really could be your initials..
Are you ever going to tell us what has ever made you want to support the mighty horns..
And what about tuesday and saturday,will you be there or not...
Bye Bye,Kev
john, reading says...
2:51am Mon 3 Dec 07
Lets not look at a plan B cos there isnt one.
Why do we by pass the midfield?-quite simply cos our midfield players are very poor. We are constantly over run in midfield at home, quite simply cos they have midfield players and we d not.
The return of Francis wont solve any problems as he is as bad as what is already put out there each game.
The defending on Saturday was so poor it was embarresing. Aidy tried to put a view on it that the strikers could have done better. Well if the strikers didnt think they were a one man team then maybe we could have done better.
The goalie is poor, the defence played poorly and are so uncomfortable on the ball, the midfield were, and are always non-existant and the front men had a big off day.
We havent been found out, were just not as good, at the moment as the table shows.
Big spending is required in the Jan transfer window, and this must be on midfielders.We cannot accept One good Mahon performance in twenty should make him an automatic pick in the team. This is like the days when Ardley was picked!!!,
I cannot blame Eliington as he gets a few minutes each game and is under extreme pressure to deliver. I am astounded that Priskin is not given more run outs. In the premiership he showed signs that the next season he could be a thorn in Championships sides. For gods sake give hime a chance, he's one of our most gifted players with a ball.
We should either finish top or second in this league or should hope to finisih outside the play- offs. At present, the latter, we are just not good enough in all departments.
alan, mk says...
6:13am Mon 3 Dec 07
john, greece says...
6:50am Mon 3 Dec 07
There are simply too many of last seasons team/squad still on our books.I quite liked the make up of the Hazlemere team except if Francis had been playing this season Im sure he would have plated himself out of contention.
For those of you that want their team to pass the ball you better stop slagging off Marriappa. Jordan Stewart was a liability last season and whatever happened this season he was never going to be good enough in the Premier. So why no cover? Hopefully JP can do the job. Shittu, sadly for all the effort will never have the class for Premier. I am a supporter of GM. At least he has an idea of what the job entails although I do think he will be overtaken by JJ WHICH IS NORMAL GIVEN THEIR COMPARITIVE AGES.TS unfortunately throughout his career to date he suffers from lack of composure in front of goal( like many of us !).
In general it seems AB is not fond of foreign players. Maybe a coincidence but Priskin and Rinaldi dont get a look in. Too skilful for the bluster required?
WatfordKev, Watford says...
10:30am Mon 3 Dec 07
Yet, it's very disappointing that we are in real danger of being overhauled, having been in a great position.
The time has come. Please please please get the ball down.
DF, Windsor says...
11:33am Mon 3 Dec 07
Would you honestly give him anymore money to spend in Jan?
Weve got more backroom staff than you can shake a stick at and the end product (entertainment wise) is poor at best!
Watford Gap, says...
1:17pm Mon 3 Dec 07
This form is relegation standard, not table topping. Fact.
We will never win this division playing the
kind of football we do. Fact.
Our midfield is a joke compared with the likes of West Brom. Fact.
Will we spend the money needed in Jan? No. Fact.
Not being neggy, it's just how I see it.
Roger, St Albans says...
9:50pm Mon 3 Dec 07
Danny Head, Oxhey says...
10:49pm Mon 3 Dec 07
chrisp, kings langley says...
10:59pm Mon 3 Dec 07
A very good analysis of all the positives around AB.
However there's one fatal flaw and that is you cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear.
The whole problem with the current situation is that AB is persisting with a style which the players can't deliver. AB has gone out and bought players who dont or cant play to his preferred style. Priskin, Rinaldi, and perhaps Ellinton, and McaNuff are not the pressure players he needs for his style of play. They are more ball players who want the ball played to feet not down the channels or chest high at 100 miles per hour. They are not happy playing his style and not very good at it either. The rest of the squad seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place in playing it too, but mostly half heartedly, so we are looking at a team not gelling or happy with the playing style and are therefore not executing it the way AB demands. Stewart seems to be playing in his own world, and Marlon is way off course too.
Meanwhile we're left in the stands watching a demoralised and fragmented squad going through the motions and getting passed off the park at home by teams they should and could beat in their sleep.
AB has to play to his players strengths and not just to a system. We've seen this at international level with Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney being asked to play as lone strikers, when they are best paired with strong partners.
Things are not going to change until AB accepts his style is not working and he and his large team of assistants change the teams style to fit their strengths. Priskin is a player who has been coached to play up with the ball played to his feet, so dont expect him to be effective taking chest high balls facing away from goal. I can recall Gifton Noel Williams having the same issues. I for one am fed up with this ugly 'hoofball' style, and want to see a passing, fluent style as WBA demonstrated can work in this league. I go every week just hoping for a change, but end up happy if we get three points and very, very p---ed off when we dont.
Ingleeesh Teeecha, By the Blackboard says...
11:36pm Mon 3 Dec 07
It really is hard work trying to read some of the posts on these boards!
If these examples of sub-standard English grammar continue I shall be forced to take my criticisms elsewhere!
Good day to you!
ozzy, king cros says...
12:08am Tue 4 Dec 07
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smiler, bretagne says...
7:32pm Sat 1 Dec 07