NewYorkSaint Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 Frustrating not to win…. But I’d say plenty of positives there. Redmond, Hojberg and even Pied looking super-promising, and Tadic and vvD could be in for epic seasons. We might just surprise ‘em on Friday. Way too soon to be on Puel's back. Let's give the new system a chance. There were moments second half with electric fast conversion of defense into attack right down the middle of the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultimatt Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 Totally agree. Hojberg is a class act and must start next game. 2 points dropped, good subs by the manager plus we need a deadly striker coming off the bench as IMHO Austin does not suit this formation. Austin will be better against the teams parking the bus as we'll be crossing a lot. Long better against the higher line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manuel Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 Much better second half. Højbjerg better than JWP, should start next game. Pied also good and likes to shoot. Think we'll be ok this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarrettIvo Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 Heaps of possession outside their area with no end product. Reminded me of times under Poch. Long could have been taken off earlier. Not really in the game at all. Lots to work with. But lots to work on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamplemousse Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 It'll be interesting to see how we do on Friday against a team who doesn't park the bus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumstead_Saint Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 Feels like 2 points dropped, but i'm not worried any more - Redmond was superb. Hojbjerg and Pied looked good and Tadic was magic at times. On the basis of this game we can play attractive football that excites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonb Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 Holjberg looked very composed although not as quick as I first thought. Romeu was caught a few times by Capoue in particular. We'll need much more cover than JWP offers away from home. Redmond came into the game very well second half. Pied looked decent and got into the game well. Tadic also got into the game more and more. Disappointed with the final third in general but that has been the story of pre-season too. The team showed character to get back into that match. Holjberg igniting the crowd towards the end of the game was great to see from someone who has only just joined. He looks a leader already. Something to build on for sure. I'm not as disheartened as I was when Watford took the lead. We looked all at see for 15 minutes there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio Saint Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 or when the players started to ditch it... To be fair to Puel, we don't know what their instructions were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 Heaps of possession outside their area with no end product. Reminded me of times under Poch. Long could have been taken off earlier. Not really in the game at all. Lots to work with. But lots to work on. It was absolutely nothing like a poch team. We weren't pressing for a start and we really struggled to keep possession, particularly before the sending off. There were some positives but I still think we are not certain how we want to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bewildered Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 Get Bertrand and Fonte back in, bring in another more attack minded midfielder and we should be fine. Forster - Despite the goal, he had very little to do. Cedric - Looked way off match readiness VVD - Did Well Yoshida - Some dodgy moments Targett - OK, offered little attacking threat Romeu - Decent enough, but a clear step down from Wanyama in that position JWP - Largely anonymous Davis - Fairly mediocre performance Tadic - Played well, only real creative outlet in the side Long - Lots of effort, but it didn't happen for him. Redmond - Grew into the game, strong second half Subs: Hojbjerg - looks a very good player, not sure why he didn't start. Pied - Got on the ball in good positions, but crossing was not very good. Austin - Didn't really provide any extra threat. Personally, I would prefer Hojbjerg start for Romeu and a more forward thinking player brought in to replace JWP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 Hojberg by a country mile. HTF JWP got in the starting 11 in front of him is beyond me. Probably the last time he will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaroid Saint Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 Redmané looked good all game. Hodgepodge pure class. Tadic needs to chill out a bit. Long not at his best, but still a menace. Davis quality passing. Target did well. Pied admittedly better than Cedric, but expect them to swap and change through the season. The fact that Watford now go 36 games undefeated after taking a lead, goes some way to showing it was their defending not our lack of attack that meant it remained 1-1 (I.e. 10 men behind the ball at all times meant sending off affected them only a little.) Quite bouyed by that second half, despite feeling it is 2 points dropped on paper. Also think Puel knows his starting XI for Friday now though. Will a new 'attack minded' player be in the squad. Will Fonts be playing in Red or Black? Ah, football. You're back, for all your crappy home draws against 'lesser teams', I have still missed you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedlemur Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 Enough promising signs there for me, apart from the 30 mins in the first half or so where we were dire. Although Puel talks about possession a lot I think the diamond could make us a lot more effective at counter attacking, which we certainly have the players for and should have done better with last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OttawaSaint Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 I liked that players tried shots from outside the box. Hojbjerg, redmond, romeu and tadic all having a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio Saint Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 Also think Puel knows his starting XI for Friday now though. Ah, football. You're back, for all your crappy home draws against 'lesser teams', I have still missed you. Saved me some typing there, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eelpie Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 Well, we're still 6th (till tomorrow) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toomer Posted 13 August, 2016 Share Posted 13 August, 2016 That's what I would call a rough diamond formation, plaplay like that Friday and we will get stuffed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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