Watford 1-1 Saints - Match Thread

[Mr X]

Watford are really trying hopefully we can hit them on the break in the second half 

[Saint NL]

Great save Bazunu, we got cut open

[OttawaSaint]

Good save Baz. Defence are a shambles today.

[vectraman]

Decent save Bazunu. 

[CB Fry]

Well done Bazunu 👏 

[Saint NL]

Shocker tackle from Adam Armstrong 😂

[Mr X]

Unneeded from AA

[BotleySaint]

Riding out luck. Watford should be ahead. We seem to have nothing in the middle. Wide players getting stuck upfield. 

[macca155]

Saints aren't finishing with 11 players. Some very poor tackles going in.

[whelk]

Bazunu and Bednarek both been superb

[Block41 Saint]

Hate us playing a high line from free kicks. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Take a point and just move on?

[Harry_SFC]

Really really poor display so far.

[Bad Wolf]

Well that was intriguing 

[Mr X]

No cutting edge this half

[gammon cheeks]

Looking rattled against a big physical team who get it forward rather quickly 

 

[Sheaf Saint]

Watford definitely looking like the best team we have played recently. 

Need to improve drastically in the 2nd half if we're going to win this.

[Saint Matty 76]

Bit of an uninspiring half really, unfortunately I think Downes is the last player we'd want to miss a game

Shame to see Leeds, Leicester and Ipswich in front/won again

[saintant]

Just now, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Take a point and just move on?

Matters little because we're headed for the play-offs. Probably not quite good enough for the top two positions.

[Disco Stu]

Lucky to go in level. Watford are creating real chances. We're not. 

[obelisk]

This is not a team that looks anywhere near to promotion material.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Little in the way of clear chances in the half. Our attempts to cut through their defence, have mostly been from a little deeper, not reaching their target. A shot into the ground near 40 mins got flicked over the bar from Stu. Some of our passes in the final third have gone astray, leading to counters, that have got their fans behind them.

Baz has been the keeper under a little more pressure. He had to do another race out, taking one of their players, before an offside flag was raised. Another ball in he couldn’t keep hold of, as a Watford player raising his foot put him off. The result hit the post, but was offside as well. A cross in just before the break went wide.

Baz had to stand up to the first real effort just before 45 mins.  After last season, he’s more than used to holding his nerve, in such situations.

We’ve had some decent passing moves, and plenty of possession. They’ve got forward in numbers and at pace, looking to exploit our fullback gaps, to get deliveries across. But our defence are well used to this, and have had numbers back, and it’s not fallen for them either. Bednarek has done very well on a couple of occasions to prevent a clear opening for them.

Aribo has been interesting to watch. A mix of things. Physically holding things up. Some good passes. Got back at pace a couple of times, and went on a little run, where he got past his man on the byline. On the other hand, still looks likely to pass it back or sideways without checking for a better forward pass. Especially, after he’s just put a little effort in. He needs half a minute to recharge.

Watford have looked the most likely in a half of not many chances. But we just need one passing move to unlock their defence.

[ally_uk]

Shite performance so far 

[gammon cheeks]

Aribo playing well.....rest of midfield no where to be seen

[The Kraken]

Not sure this set up is working for us. Definitely missing Flynn Downes, and Shea Charles is having a bit of a shocker. Think I’d be hooking Alcaraz and getting on Smallbone, let Aribo get forward a bit more and provide a better shielding for the defence.

Not a good half.

[Saint NL]

Half time.

Pretty uneventful, Watford looked better towards the end, but Bazunu and Bednarek have been very good to keep them out.

The midfield control is really costing us, plus Alcarez has had a shocker and Adams is hardly involved as expected.

 

Will Martin stick and try grind out the 0-0 or go for it? Tricky one...

[Harry_SFC]

Apart from Bazunu, Bednarek and Aribo, no one else comes out of that half with any credit. Are we too aggressive? We give away far too many fouls. It's playing right into their hands.

[saint lard]

As predicted. 
Leicester or Ipswich would put this team away. 
we are lacking thus far. 

[sambosa75]

64% possession and absolutely no threat caused whatsoever.

[saintant]

Just now, saint lard said:

As predicted. 
Leicester or Ipswich would put this team away. 
we are lacking thus far. 

Agree. Play-offs is our level.

[Charlie Wayman]

Needs some new ideas in the attacking third, Smallbone maybe, defo AA off and probs Adams as well. Mara Edozie please.

[obelisk]

The number of pointless free kicks we give away are mental. Always gives a team of big players a chance to lump it up there and leaves our chaps under the threat of yet more yellow cards.

[Charlie Wayman]

2 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Apart from Bazunu, Bednarek and Aribo, no one else comes out of that half with any credit. Are we too aggressive? We give away far too many fouls. It's playing right into their hands.

Odd remark, KWP doing very well and Charles having a good match.

[St. Ciervo]

I didn't think it was all that bad considering we were practically playing with 10 men. Alcaraz might as well be picking daisies out there...

[macca155]

Exactly as I thought it would be.

Watford are no mugs, they'll probably be a play off contender. Strong and well coached like West Brom.

Saints look OK but are certainly going to have to fight for this one. Watford  aren't going to roll over for us.

Akcaraz and S Armstrong are giving the ball away far too often. With no Downes recycling the ball is pinging back to the defence too often.

However still 0 0, all to play for. Mara for Alcaraz is pretty obvious. Frazer for S Armstrong at some point.

They'll tire at some point and will bring on weaker players. That will be Saints's opportunity but they need to still be in the game.

[saintant]

3 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

Half time.

Pretty uneventful, Watford looked better towards the end, but Bazunu and Bednarek have been very good to keep them out.

The midfield control is really costing us, plus Alcarez has had a shocker and Adams is hardly involved as expected.

 

Will Martin stick and try grind out the 0-0 or go for it? Tricky one...

This smacks of an old style Saints performance where we rarely threaten and end up losing one nil.

[Toadhall Saint]

Just now, St. Ciervo said:

I didn't think it was all that bad considering we were practically playing with 10 men. Alcaraz might as well be picking daisies out there...

Was like that i  the 1st half the other week - hopefully he'll turn it round in the 2nd half and boss it.

[madge]

Need to move the ball much quicker as Watford are a quick physical team. Nothing coming via our wide payers either. Not sure if Adams actually knows his position today, not been in the game whatsoever. 
 

[obelisk]

Interesting looking at the half time stats there. Saints worse in just about every respect except pointless possession. Are we still waiting and hoping for this to improve?

[BotleySaint]

Just now, madge said:

Need to move the ball much quicker as Watford are a quick physical team. 
 

A few times we could have caught them on the counter and instead we've turned backward. 

[The Kraken]

3 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Odd remark, KWP doing very well and Charles having a good match.

We must be watching a different game, in my one Charles is having a stinker.

KWP is not getting much support going forward but when he does it’s the only time we look threatening.

[saintant]

Just now, obelisk said:

Interesting looking at the half time stats there. Saints worse in just about every respect except pointless possession. Are we still waiting and hoping for this to improve?

We know RM won't change so probably more of the same second half. Think he needs to swap Alcaraz for Smallbone.

[Saint NL]

Are they only allowed to play Elton John songs on the PA? It's relentless 

[NewYorkSaint]

The team is wrestling w how much risk to take to break through.  eg. Aribo's turn half way through was spectacular and nearly led to something. Stu Armstrong is 50/50. Some of his flicks have threatened, others have lost possession. Alcaraz, in principle is the kind of player who can turn possession into chances.  But so far today he's turned possession into not-possession.  But the point remains that against a team as good as Watford, we won't score w/o taking some risks....  I'd give Charlie A another 10 mins, and if he hasn't improved his outcomes, pull him for Smallbone.

Despite the lack of goals, I've still loved seeing a lot of the one-touch play out of defense, esp in the first 15 mins...

[Patches O Houlihan]

11 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Apart from Bazunu, Bednarek and Aribo, no one else comes out of that half with any credit. Are we too aggressive? We give away far too many fouls. It's playing right into their hands.

KWP has been superb

[VectisSaint]

7 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Odd remark, KWP doing very well and Charles having a good match.

Charles is not having a good match. Stupid yellow and giving the ball away, looks a bit like the Charles we saw at beginning of season, thought he had got through that. 

[Saint NL]

Alcarez hooked at half time. Fraser on

[Master Bates]

2 hours ago, saintant said:

No Downes - must have picked up an injury. Going to be tough without him.

Sorry if mentioned but yeah he has

[saintant]

Just now, NewYorkSaint said:

The team is wrestling w how much risk to take to break through.  eg. Aribo's turn half way through was spectacular and nearly led to something. Stu Armstrong is 50/50. Some of his flicks have threatened, others have lost possession. Alcaraz, in principle is the kind of player who can turn possession into chances.  But so far today he's turned possession into not-possession.  But the point remains that against a team as good as Watford, we won't score w/o taking some risks....  I'd give Charlie A another 10 mins, and if he hasn't improved his outcomes, pull him for Smallbone.

Despite the lack of goals, I've still loved seeing a lot of the one-touch play out of defence, esp in the first 15 mins...

Bottom line is we are securely in the play-off spots so not much to be gained by being so cautious and risk-adverse. RM is adamant we must take risks to play out from the back yet when the ball goes forward it seems we are not brave enough to try anything that might not come off. Take more risks to get the win.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Well, a shot ...