Back from the game - Watford

[Ian Royal]

Just watched the highlights and I think it gives a hint as to Obita's subsitution with Watford causing problems down his side of the defence as the game wore on. Couple of times he seemed to be struggling to keep up. And Adkins said in the interview he had cramp (as did Akpan). Probably already mentioned.

Akpan was conspicuous by his weak challenges and generally posing little obstacle for Watford players to get past.

Super corner from Obita, whipped in with pace and to a good spot. Nothing hopeful about that. And well attacked by Gorkss, went straight through the keeper, just had no chance to react to it. Deeney probably should have buried at least one chance, although he didn't really make McCarthy have to work too hard to keep out the ones he did get on target.

[Basingstoke Royal]

Just watched the highlights and I think it gives a hint as to Obita's subsitution with Watford causing problems down his side of the defence as the game wore on. Couple of times he seemed to be struggling to keep up. And Adkins said in the interview he had cramp (as did Akpan). Probably already mentioned.

Akpan was conspicuous by his weak challenges and generally posing little obstacle for Watford players to get past.

Super corner from Obita, whipped in with pace and to a good spot. Nothing hopeful about that. And well attacked by Gorkss, went straight through the keeper, just had no chance to react to it. Deeney probably should have buried at least one chance, although he didn't really make McCarthy have to work too hard to keep out the ones he did get on target.

Obita came off with cramp I think.

[sandman]

Just watched the highlights and I think it gives a hint as to Obita's subsitution with Watford causing problems down his side of the defence as the game wore on. Couple of times he seemed to be struggling to keep up. And Adkins said in the interview he had cramp (as did Akpan). Probably already mentioned.

Akpan was conspicuous by his weak challenges and generally posing little obstacle for Watford players to get past.

Super corner from Obita, whipped in with pace and to a good spot. Nothing hopeful about that. And well attacked by Gorkss, went straight through the keeper, just had no chance to react to it. Deeney probably should have buried at least one chance, although he didn't really make McCarthy have to work too hard to keep out the ones he did get on target.

Interesting you should criticise Akpan for weak challenges when your mate Guthrie is the king of half heartedly waving his foot around as a player waltzes past.

In reality Akpan did a perfectly decent job and helped us keep a decent tempo in possession.

[winchester_royal]

And he did the simple things well, getting the ball wide accurately and quickly rather than going for the Hollywood ball every time. Helped us keep possession and maintain a good tempo.

[Ian Royal]

As should be obvious to anyone, as I'm talking about the highlights its in no way intended as a representation of overall performance in the match.

[handbags_harris]

Interesting that Akpan is getting good reviews on here. For the first time in 18 matches between these two teams I wasn't in attendance, but a Watford STH basically said Pogrebnyak was by far and away the best player on the pitch, while Akpan was by far and away the worst...

[Ginger Ninjas]

Interesting that Akpan is getting good reviews on here. For the first time in 18 matches between these two teams I wasn't in attendance, but a Watford STH basically said Pogrebnyak was by far and away the best player on the pitch, while Akpan was by far and away the worst...

I made the point about Akpan in my review, really surprised about the amount of praise he's getting - maybe it's just that it's compared to that godawful cameo he gave just before Christmas. Would greatly prefer Leigertwood/Karacan to partner Williams.

[AthleticoSpizz]

regardless, we won...we didn't concede

The combination of Pog (11 out of ten), Akpan (minus 7 out of a thousand) and Obita (4 out of 5) worked

As Sir Steve would say...dont change it

[PistolPete]

Late post, but my first game in a while.

McCarthy - Looked sharp and made good saves. 8
Gunter - So much more confident these days, one very poor pass and one poor tackle, but other than that looked solid. 7
Obita - Nervous to go forward in the first half, excellent in the second half. Looked a real prospect at left back and with Bridge, we've our bases covered. 7/8
Pearce - Didn't dominate and lost his marker a few times. Wondering when we'll see the real Pearce again. 6
Gorkss - Surprised at how he marshalled the defence. He wanted it more than the Watford forwards and threw his body around well. 7
Akpan - Looked to play the ultra safe ball every time and shirked a few challenges. 6
Williams - Physically strong and loved to run with the ball, could have backfired a few times. Still think he'd fit a midfield 3 better. 7
McAnuff - Ran and ran and ran. 8
McCleary - Not a great game, seemed to run down blind alleys. 6
Pogrebnyak - Battering ram. Every ball launched to him stuck. Loved watching him try to run through 3 players... 9
ALF - Just didn't seem to bounce for him and high balls are never going to be his forte 6

Subs - All 6, not enough time.

Ref - 6, perhaps should have given ALF a penalty?

Crowd - Good, although why in such a small stand are we unable to co-ordinate the singing?!

General thoughts - Definitely more direct than recent games, perhaps suits an away game. We missed Guthrie contrary to people saying we were better without him. ALF is a sub not a starter. Obita could go on to be a top class left back. We created very little and the set piece goal shields us from this fact. Watford's home support is very very quiet.

[sandman]

Late post, but my first game in a while.

McCarthy - Looked sharp and made good saves. 8
Gunter - So much more confident these days, one very poor pass and one poor tackle, but other than that looked solid. 7
Obita - Nervous to go forward in the first half, excellent in the second half. Looked a real prospect at left back and with Bridge, we've our bases covered. 7/8
Pearce - Didn't dominate and lost his marker a few times. Wondering when we'll see the real Pearce again. 6
Gorkss - Surprised at how he marshalled the defence. He wanted it more than the Watford forwards and threw his body around well. 7
Akpan - Looked to play the ultra safe ball every time and shirked a few challenges. 6
Williams - Physically strong and loved to run with the ball, could have backfired a few times. Still think he'd fit a midfield 3 better. 7
McAnuff - Ran and ran and ran. 8
McCleary - Not a great game, seemed to run down blind alleys. 6
Pogrebnyak - Battering ram. Every ball launched to him stuck. Loved watching him try to run through 3 players... 9
ALF - Just didn't seem to bounce for him and high balls are never going to be his forte 6

Subs - All 6, not enough time.

Ref - 6, perhaps should have given ALF a penalty?

Crowd - Good, although why in such a small stand are we unable to co-ordinate the singing?!

General thoughts - Definitely more direct than recent games, perhaps suits an away game. We missed Guthrie contrary to people saying we were better without him. ALF is a sub not a starter. Obita could go on to be a top class left back. We created very little and the set piece goal shields us from this fact. Watford's home support is very very quiet.

We didn't miss Guthrie and those "safe passes" you said Akpan made were exactly what we needed as they kept us ticking over rather than having a player who stops to look for the Hollywood pass every time he gets the ball.

[PistolPete]

If I was on the pitch I would have made the same passes Akpan made and I can assure you, no-one would think I was the answer. Akpan is out of form and confidence. Guthrie is a premiership player playing in a team that doesn't fit the managers style of play yet. Just because we won with a corner doesn't mean that Akpan is the answer and we are so obviously better without Guthrie.

[sandman]

I'll give you a pass Pete because as you said you hadn't been for a while and you obviously haven't seen the Guthrie of the last few months only the one from August to October, who had tbf, some quite decent performances. If you'd seen the one from the last few months you wouldn't say we missed him on Saturday because we've been missing the August to October Guthrie for some time.

Most of his problems have been that he has had no discipline in his game. Akpan whilst not spectacular at least had some of that in his game and we looked better for it.

I've always been interested in this "Guthrie is a Premier League player" stuff because before he signed for us I wouldn't have said that he'd established himself in any of the Premier League teams he has played for. Ultimately I think he is really a player who can be talented in the Championship and could maybe do a job for a PL team for a season until they can get in better players.

[RoyalBlue]

I thought Akpan had a pretty good game. However there were a couple of occasions when his trademark fluffed kicks nearly cost us dear. Both occurred in a central position some 30 yards from our goal. The first time it appeared as though he was trying to do a Cruyff turn as a player closed him down. Unfortunately he hit the ball too hard with his heel and as it ran away from him their player nipped in to take possession and close on goal. On the second it looked as though he was trying to control a bouncing ball, only to miss it completely and again one of their players nipped in and again closed on goal.

[Bucks Dave]

Have to smile at the Reading OS. According to them we were so pleased with the Pog's performance we were singing his name. All I remember is singing "Big f-cking Russian, we've got a big f'cking Russian" several times.

[Vision]

I'll give you a pass Pete because as you said you hadn't been for a while and you obviously haven't seen the Guthrie of the last few months only the one from August to October, who had tbf, some quite decent performances. If you'd seen the one from the last few months you wouldn't say we missed him on Saturday because we've been missing the August to October Guthrie for some time.

Most of his problems have been that he has had no discipline in his game. Akpan whilst not spectacular at least had some of that in his game and we looked better for it.

I've always been interested in this "Guthrie is a Premier League player" stuff because before he signed for us I wouldn't have said that he'd established himself in any of the Premier League teams he has played for. Ultimately I think he is really a player who can be talented in the Championship and could maybe do a job for a PL team for a season until they can get in better players.

Pretty much agreed although in Guthrie's defence I think he's been playing injured for a good few weeks now and it's caught up with him.

[Hoop Blah]

Guthrie isn't an established Premier League player no. Those that say he is are probably talking about his ability and potential to be one, and a lot of club spin of course too. He's never quite made it happen though and that's why we managed to sign him instead of him going to a Fulham, Villa or West Brom.

I've always said he's a bit of a Premier Leagues version of Brian Howard for us in the Championship. Potentially a very good player, but lacking something to make it happen.

As for his form, I agree with Vision, he's looked like he's been carrying an injury or something, plus he's hampered by a lack of options and a settled and functioning team around him. Much like Doyle and Kitson in the past, I think his form has been hampered because we've got no credible replacement and he's probably ended up playing when he needed to rested.

[RoyalBlue]

Guthrie isn't an established Premier League player no. Those that say he is are probably talking about his ability and potential to be one, and a lot of club spin of course too. He's never quite made it happen though and that's why we managed to sign him instead of him going to a Fulham, Villa or West Brom.

I've always said he's a bit of a Premier Leagues version of Brian Howard for us in the Championship. Potentially a very good player, but lacking something to make it happen.

Talking of which, once again Nick Hammond has been caught napping ..... Birmingham have just signed said Brian Howard on a short-term contract until the end of the season!

[SydenhamRoyal]

I thought Akpan had a pretty good game. However there were a couple of occasions when his trademark fluffed kicks nearly cost us dear. Both occurred in a central position some 30 yards from our goal. The first time it appeared as though he was trying to do a Cruyff turn as a player closed him down. Unfortunately he hit the ball too hard with his heel and as it ran away from him their player nipped in to take possession and close on goal. On the second it looked as though he was trying to control a bouncing ball, only to miss it completely and again one of their players nipped in and again closed on goal.

tbf you could say the same about Guthrie on several occasions, just one example being Bournemouth's first goal all coming from a Guthrie blunder

[RoyalBlue]

I thought Akpan had a pretty good game. However there were a couple of occasions when his trademark fluffed kicks nearly cost us dear. Both occurred in a central position some 30 yards from our goal. The first time it appeared as though he was trying to do a Cruyff turn as a player closed him down. Unfortunately he hit the ball too hard with his heel and as it ran away from him their player nipped in to take possession and close on goal. On the second it looked as though he was trying to control a bouncing ball, only to miss it completely and again one of their players nipped in and again closed on goal.

tbf you could say the same about Guthrie on several occasions, just one example being Bournemouth's first goal all coming from a Guthrie blunder

You could say that but the first Bournemouth goal came from a freekick wide on our left and considerably further out. Can't recall whether Guthrie conceded the freekick but even if he did, Akpan's error (which came from trying to be clever) occurred in a far more dangerous position.

[SydenhamRoyal]

I thought Akpan had a pretty good game. However there were a couple of occasions when his trademark fluffed kicks nearly cost us dear. Both occurred in a central position some 30 yards from our goal. The first time it appeared as though he was trying to do a Cruyff turn as a player closed him down. Unfortunately he hit the ball too hard with his heel and as it ran away from him their player nipped in to take possession and close on goal. On the second it looked as though he was trying to control a bouncing ball, only to miss it completely and again one of their players nipped in and again closed on goal.

tbf you could say the same about Guthrie on several occasions, just one example being Bournemouth's first goal all coming from a Guthrie blunder

You could say that but the first Bournemouth goal came from a freekick wide on our left and considerably further out. Can't recall whether Guthrie conceded the freekick but even if he did, Akpan's error (which came from trying to be clever) occurred in a far more dangerous position.

Twaddle. Guthrie couldnt make his mind up what to do so headed it to one of their players. 10 yards outside our penalty area. A goal resulted. Did Watford score from any mistake Akpan made?