Back From The Game - Watford (H)

[West Stand Man]

Shocking defending in the first half. Their goal was a collection of awful mistakes and failure to clear the lines. Matt Mills once again showing his incapability for being captain. Both Federici and Harte had shockers in the first half.

Never really got going. Scott Loach made a mistake and that was about as good as it got for us in the final third.

People slagging off Simon Church and Brian Howard on the radio need to re-watch the game. McDermott harps on about going for 3 points, but takes off Hunt when we could have gone to 4-3-3.

Do you actually watch the game at all or do you write this crap before it kicks off?

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

A team should rarely need a rebuild, there must be the best part of a decent team here, just needs twaeaking and playing to its strengths, surely?

[Tad Showbiz]

Just woken up. Who did we play today?!

[prostak]

The 2005 incarnation of ourselves, apparently.

[yappy]

On the subject of Howard, thought he had a better game today, but it frustrates the hell out of me that were so incessant on playing everything down the wings. Quite a few times Howard would find space in the middle but Harte/McAnuff and Griffin/Kebe would just pass it between themselves, and it makes it very easy for other teams to counteract.

[SHORT AND CURLY]

Frustrating
On Tuesday we played 4-5-1
We had Tabb playing behind Long, we dominated the game and were unlucky not to be two or three up.
Today it was evident at half time that 4-4-2 was not working.
In the second half Hunt should have been replaced, Tabb bought on and reverted to the formation at Brammal lane.
At least it would have given Watford something else to think about. We were very predictable today.

[Royalwaster]

I actually didn't think it was such a bad game - admittedly we didn't creat an awful lot but there was some good spells from both sides. Of course, with the thought in the back of our minds that we needed a win it was disappointing, but Watford are a decent side, pretty much our equals. So, I find it a bit surprising how a lot of people are talking as if we'd just been beaten.

[paultheroyal]

I actually didn't think it was such a bad game - admittedly we didn't creat an awful lot but there was some good spells from both sides. Of course, with the thought in the back of our minds that we needed a win it was disappointing, but Watford are a decent side, pretty much our equals. So, I find it a bit surprising how a lot of people are talking as if we'd just been beaten.

I very rarely say this, but i thought it was woeful. Good spells, i must of blinked. No creativity, no flair, static defending, naive tactics, dull substitutions.

[Snowball]

Thought we were outclassed for 32 minutes and could have been 0-4 down
but then we got into the game. LOVED what Elwood did for his shot and
he deserved a goal. Basically, when Watford were going for it they out-did
us in midfield.

Howard played a lot better. He's not too bad on the ball but rarely wins anything.
Thought he faded second half. Bringing on HRK was a waste of time (again)
and we should have brought on Tabb if we were replacing Howard (IMO)

The service to Long as CF was a total joke. In the first half-hour their 9 foot tall CB
totally dominated. Thought Shane then started moving more and did well, but generally
we looked devoid of ideas. McAnuff seemed to want to go solo all the time and they
had him sussed. The Kebs was OK but only in patches.

The defence (CBs in particular) was pulled around for 32 minutes but I thought they played well after that.
Hunt looked under-par but if a striker gets a goal (even a gift) he passes IMO

Elwood was head and shoulders above any other RFC player. I shudder to think what might
have happened had he not played.

Church managed a couple of passes but again looked badly off form. HRK (no further comment)


We need TWO Elwoods and to play a bit more football. I think it's time to change things
as the two wingers doesn't seem to work any more

9.0 Elwood
8.0 Federici
7.5 Long
7.0 Griffin, Harte, Mills, Ingi, Hunt, Kebe, McAnuff
6.5 Howard

6.5 Church
6.0 HRK but didn't have enough time to impress

New Keep did OK and didn't look too nervous

[Handsome Man]

It was interesting that McD said he would like to sign Leigertwood permanently and also interesting that he made no other comment about it - no "so I hope we can", "It depends what happens at the end of the season", "I'll be asking the Chairman" nothing. Just a statement that he'd like to sign him permanently, which, to my mind at least, gave me the impression that he knows he hasn't got a hope in hell for whatever reason.

Or that he knows we can't sign anybody until June.

Today was shit, but Howard played well and Federici made a good save. It was quite exciting when MacAnuff and Kebe got the ball and at elast we didn't lose.

[Turns8]

It was interesting that McD said he would like to sign Leigertwood permanently and also interesting that he made no other comment about it - no "so I hope we can", "It depends what happens at the end of the season", "I'll be asking the Chairman" nothing. Just a statement that he'd like to sign him permanently, which, to my mind at least, gave me the impression that he knows he hasn't got a hope in hell for whatever reason.

Or that he knows we can't sign anybody until June.

Today was shit, but Howard played well and Federici made a good save. It was quite exciting when MacAnuff and Kebe got the ball and at elast we didn't lose.

^^^agreed...

Why McD was even asked that question is beyond me... still 1/4 of this season left...besides RL I thought you were boycotting the club next season due to the ST fiasco so why are you that worried...

#nofishingtripo

[West Stand Man]

[

I very rarely say this, but i thought it was woeful. Good spells, i must of blinked. No creativity, no flair, static defending, naive tactics, dull substitutions.

Anyone who writes 'must of' doesn't have a valid opinion. Sorry, that's just the way it is.

[loyalroyal7]

Poor yet again same suspects playing badly harte mcanuff hunt long was in his silly mood where he wants to moan instead of playing , still trying hard as to understand as to why mcd brought 3 players yet only manset has played also as to why antonio didnt get on and cummings hasnt had a look in. We played 2 strikers but no one put the ball in the box even on corners ivar is past it and i eould like peace back or zurab given a chance

[brendywendy]

i do agree, we need to give pearce a chance.....

[FiNeRaIn]

Was speaking to a high name player after the game today, said he was disappointed with the performance but it wasn't through lack of effort, the team just have lost the winning touch. General consensus is the players really like BMD and want to play for him. A lot of the squad felt positive through the summer but the signals selling sig left and then failing to invest in the team has annoyed a lot of the more senior players and left the impression they were working against the board rather than with them to achieve the same goal. Zurabs a great player, good personality but thinks his lack of first time appearances is due to BMD wanting to build a partnership between mills and pearce for the long term. Long off in the summer if we don't go up, has made no noises about wanting to leave this season but has ambitions to play for celtic or a decent prem club.

Lastly, pitch hasn't helped the teams style for quite some time, makes it difficult to get it down and zip it into space because of how poor the surface is. Way worse on the actual pitch than it looks from the stand.

Can't divulge who it was, but nothing shocking in that.

[loyalroyal7]

yes you can blame the pitch but as all good teams do you change you style to win games which reading fail to do regardless of the pitch.

[Tamworth_Royal]

Was speaking to a high name player after the game today, said he was disappointed with the performance but it wasn't through lack of effort, the team just have lost the winning touch. General consensus is the players really like BMD and want to play for him. A lot of the squad felt positive through the summer but the signals selling sig left and then failing to invest in the team has annoyed a lot of the more senior players and left the impression they were working against the board rather than with them to achieve the same goal. Zurabs a great player, good personality but thinks his lack of first time appearances is due to BMD wanting to build a partnership between mills and pearce for the long term. Long off in the summer if we don't go up, has made no noises about wanting to leave this season but has ambitions to play for celtic or a decent prem club.

Lastly, pitch hasn't helped the teams style for quite some time, makes it difficult to get it down and zip it into space because of how poor the surface is. Way worse on the actual pitch than it looks from the stand.

Can't divulge who it was, but nothing shocking in that.

Oh the egg chasers, don't worry squad is your answer

[RoyalJames101]

Fedders- 7 - Didn't have too much to do. Not much he could of done for the goal. Made a few good stops, notably from the header(?) in the first half.
Griffin- 8 - Solid defensively as usual, offered a lot going forward as well.
Mills- 7 - Thought he had a decent game, needs to cut down on the long balls though.
Ivar- 8/9 - Excellent today. Made some great challenges and looked solid throughout.
Harte- 7 - Solid, didn't get beat many times.
Kebe- 6 - Just not the same since his injury. Had a lot of the ball but just didn't seem to have the final ball.
Leigertwood- 9- Immense. Everything he did looked a cut above everyone else on the pitch. Must sign in the summer.
Howard- 8- Thought he had a very good game tbf. Kept the ball down and played some good passes.
McAnuff- 6 - Think he just tried to hard today. Constantly dispossessed and keeps cutting inside.
Long- 7 - Worked his socks off again and never stopped running.
Hunt - 7 - Was a bit quite tbf. Good finish for the goal though.

Subs

McCarthy- Had nothing to do.
HRK - Just doesn't offer anything. Should have been Antonio.
Church- Just needs one goal.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Lol @ good finish for the goal. Even Church wouldn't have missed that header

[Libertine]

i do agree, we need to give pearce a chance.....

Sung to John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance"?