Team for Watford (A)

[Wimb]

Things to think about after the Jekyll & Hyde performance on Saturday, particularly the defence which has now conceded 3 goals in 3 out of the last 4 games, and up front where Kebe could be fit but does he replace one of a front 3 who seem to be clicking.

For me...

Federici

Armstrong
Pearce
Zurab
Griffin

McAnuff (c)
Tabb
Karacan

Hunt

Church
Long


I think the time's come to change the back 4, Armstrong is a defender that if fully fit is both a better defender and more able to get up and support the wingers then Harte. Mills to me looks ragged and something's not right with him so it's time for Pearce to get a run out, McAnuff seems to be the next in line for the armband so give it to him or Griff.

Midfield wise Tabb deserves a chance alongside Karacan and I keep Hunt in for Kebe both due to the formers goalscoring form and the laters questionable fitness. Then up front it's the same two.

[Ian Royal]

Federici

Cummings
Armstrong
Pearce
Khizanishvili

Karacan
Howard
Church

McAnuff
Hunt (Kebe)

Long

[Victor Meldrew]

Please can we get back to playing two wingers even if it means one of HRK or Antonio plays should Kebe not be fit again.
Obviously Armstrong should come in at left-back but Brian won't change it as he seems to be like Snowball in being an Irish lover and has a real blind spot when it comes to Harte.

Brian,do a Coppell and sit in the stands for a while and you will see better (like we do) how out of position Harte gets and how he just doesn't bother to tackle.
Having said that I'm afraid that Hunt doesn't appreciate what a wide player needs to do at the defensive end of the pitch-something that Kebe and McAnuff (despite being the normal frail type of wingers) have improved greatly with over the past year.

[Snowball]

McArthy

Cummings
Pearce
Ingimarson
Kelly

Antonio
Tabb
Armstrong
HRK

Taylor
Bignall

[cmonurz]

I'd bring Armstrong back in the midfield, and start NHunt ahead of Long, alongside Church.

[Ian Royal]

I'd bring Armstrong back in the midfield, and start NHunt ahead of Long, alongside Church.

Strongly tempted with Hunt in for Long.

[PEARCEY]

I'd certainly like to see Pearce in for Mills but that does mean our back four is as slow as an arthritic snail whose just heavily over-eaten.
I'd also like Tabb in for Howard and keep the changes to that and hope for the best really.

[Snowball]

Tell Howard, I'm bringing Tabb on after half-an-hour unless you play like Messi, and go on a diet yer bum.

[Snowball]

It depends on Kebe. If fit (and fit enough to play) unlikely but he might get 30 mins

Hunt has earned his place and should be accommodated. So if Kebe doesn't play
I suspect it's Hunt wide in 4-5-1 again with Long down the middle. He'll play.

Church looked good against Cardiff, not very good against Norwich. If we play 4-5-1
he has a chance of playing in the hole, but if we go 4-4-2 it will be Long-Hunt

If we go 4-4-2 maybe it's time for Antonio

Fedders

Griffin
Zurab
Mills but due for Pearce
Harte (Armstrong)

Antonio
Karacan
Howard/Tabb
McAnuff

Hunt
Long

[Snowball]

I'd certainly like to see Pearce in for Mills but that does mean our back four is as slow as an arthritic snail whose just heavily over-eaten.
I'd also like Tabb in for Howard and keep the changes to that and hope for the best really.

Cummings?


Serious question

[Kitson12]

I never agreed with Cummings being dropped for Griffin when he got back to fitness, but Griffin was quite good, especially in the second half yesterday, so doesn't deserve to be dropped.

[Terminal Boardom]

I never agreed with Cummings being dropped for Griffin when he got back to fitness, but Griffin was quite good, especially in the second half yesterday, so doesn't deserve to be dropped.

But Griffin had very little defending to do in the second half.

I would like to see Mills dropped for Pearce and Harte replaced by Armstrong. I would play 2 up front - Long and Hunt and play with MacAnuff and HRZ out wide. I would also give Howard a rest and stick Tabb in CM instead. However, none of this will actually happen!

Federici puzzles me. He is a big lad but just does not make use of his attributes. He is too quiet for a keeper and always looks to be sitting on his heels. He needs to be on the balls of his feet instead of being rooted to the spot. He was too slow to react to all 3 goals yesterday. With quicker feet, he could have prevented the second and third. The first? Made it too easy by stopping short of the scorer.

[Ian Royal]

If Pearce comes in I actually think Cummings should do as well for one of Griffin or Harte. Not really on merit, though I don't think he's necessarily far off, but because he's got the most pace of our remaining defenders and it'll help make up for losing the pace that Mills has.

I'm guessing we'll see very few if any changes though as McDermott has a strong word and prays that awful defensive display was a bit of a one off.

[Snowball]

The first? Made it too easy by stopping short of the scorer.

He had all but closed the door, did well I thought (put in a hopeless position) and the striker did extremely well

Had Feds gone another few feet to his left the guy could have cut back and had more goal to shoot at

[Wycombe Royal]

If Pearce comes in I actually think Cummings should do as well for one of Griffin or Harte. Not really on merit, though I don't think he's necessarily far off, but because he's got the most pace of our remaining defenders and it'll help make up for losing the pace that Mills has.

I'm guessing we'll see very few if any changes though as McDermott has a strong word and prays that awful defensive display was a bit of a one off.

How would you bring in Cummings for Harte? Are you advocating playing players out of position even when you have fit players available for the position?

[Ian Royal]

If Pearce comes in I actually think Cummings should do as well for one of Griffin or Harte. Not really on merit, though I don't think he's necessarily far off, but because he's got the most pace of our remaining defenders and it'll help make up for losing the pace that Mills has.

I'm guessing we'll see very few if any changes though as McDermott has a strong word and prays that awful defensive display was a bit of a one off.

How would you bring in Cummings for Harte? Are you advocating playing players out of position even when you have fit players available for the position?

Well he did play there once already this season and seemed to do alright. At least that's the impression I was under. Harte would not be my preference as it puts him out of position and we lose a lot of set piece quality. Just a possibility.

[Wycombe Royal]

If Pearce comes in I actually think Cummings should do as well for one of Griffin or Harte. Not really on merit, though I don't think he's necessarily far off, but because he's got the most pace of our remaining defenders and it'll help make up for losing the pace that Mills has.

I'm guessing we'll see very few if any changes though as McDermott has a strong word and prays that awful defensive display was a bit of a one off.

How would you bring in Cummings for Harte? Are you advocating playing players out of position even when you have fit players available for the position?

Well he did play there once already this season and seemed to do alright. At least that's the impression I was under. Harte would not be my preference as it puts him out of position and we lose a lot of set piece quality. Just a possibility.

He played there because there was little other choice, and that is what it should always be - a last resort. We have Harte and Armstrong both fit, yet you suggest playing Cummings there. Thankfully McD has a full round of sandwiches in his picnic and won't consider doing that......

[Ian Royal]

If you look closely, you'll see I've not put him in for Harte. I'd only do it, if Griff was in outstanding form, and both Harte & Mills were in need of dropping. Which I don't think is really the case

[roadrunner]

---------------------- FLAPPERICI ----------------------

Griffin -------- ZURAB ------ PEARCE -------- HARTE

McANUFF ------ KARACAN ---- TABB ------ McANUFF

------------------ HUNT ------ LONG -------------------

[Wycombe Royal]

If you look closely, you'll see I've not put him in for Harte. I'd only do it, if Griff was in outstanding form, and both Harte & Mills were in need of dropping. Which I don't think is really the case

If I look closely I see that you wrote "I actually think Cummings should do as well for one of Griffin or Harte".

See it? One of Griffin OR Harte and you didn't expand on it any more than that, although you have done now.