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Came out of the gate playing confident, cohesive, brave, attacking football. Players arriving in the box and getting the cross in early instead a fkin about wide. Movement, pace, combinations...looked like a team that had used the International break well and had some ideas and principles really drilled into them. Bodes well for the possibility of a young team growing as a unit. Marvellous.
Leaving the more obvious man of the matches aside it was Morgan who I really noticed early on. I thought it was an excellent performance mentally as much as anything. He really took responsibility for that deep playmaker role and looked to be really positive and get the ball forward. Missed a few passes early on but he kept going, no problem. No constant safe back passes today. And of course he can get around the pitch. Took his bollocking from Jimmy Dunne on the chin and got on with it. Very impressive.
I think his mentality had an effect on Varane as the game went on too. Johnny boy started as terrified as usual upon receiving the ball but somewhere along the line he grew in confidence and crucially in positive mentality. Some nice passes to go with the excellent 2nd half defensive work. When he turned Louza on about 75 minutes and got fouled as he charged towards the box it was a reminder of what he was showing last year in terms of driving past his man using touch and his excellent physicality. Reckon it's all about confidence for him. One swallow, Summer and all that but it's a start.
Did the ref love a card or what! Sometimes only after being asked to give it.The Poku Louza double in injury time was hilarious/ridiculous. Even now I still can't be sure if Louza was playing for Watford or was just here shadowing the ref on work experience.
They're a weird team Watford. Their Whole was, at it invariably is, less than the sum of its parts. The ownership's vibe of permanent management instability must filter down and play a big part in the on field culture. Lack of commitment. Have you ever seen a team whose centre backs go down so easily for a good roll about on the floor? Weak.
Anyway, great win. Well done lads, impressive.
[Post edited 3 Apr 21:52]
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I think I enjoyed that more than Portsmouth... on 21:54 - Apr 3 with 2718 views
Give me that performance than the previous week. Better opponents, better ball retention and better all round performance.
First half was the first proper glimpse of what Morgan could do and it was really promising.
It's the first game I've come away from in a long long time and thought we looked like a team. Just wish Chair and Madsen (instead of Varane) were in there.
I think I enjoyed that more than Portsmouth... on 21:54 - Apr 3 by Wilkinswatercarrier
Give me that performance than the previous week. Better opponents, better ball retention and better all round performance.
First half was the first proper glimpse of what Morgan could do and it was really promising.
It's the first game I've come away from in a long long time and thought we looked like a team. Just wish Chair and Madsen (instead of Varane) were in there.
It was a better performance, just less clinical.
Up for it from the start - looked like a decent ten days of preparation, the right selections and motivation.
Given who’s injured and where we were just last month, I would hope it is a good environment for returning players to ease back into and hope the run continues.
Those possessed by devils, try and keep them under control a bit, can't you ?
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I think I enjoyed that more than Portsmouth... on 06:59 - Apr 4 with 2139 views
I was particularly hoping we were going to hang on for the win in those nervy last ten minutes because although we are safe now it would have been an absolute travesty if we hadn’t got all three points after playing so well and making Watford look so mediocre. I don’t think I’ve seen us play better than that this season and considering the injuries it was great to see how well the team clicked right from the start. From hardly being able to find a man from five yards away with a pass a few weeks ago to what we saw yesterday was an enormous difference and the one touch interplay between the outstanding front four was a breath of fresh air. It really gives you a good feeling when you’ve seen your team play as well as that and the Portsmouth score would have been a far more accurate reflection of the game.
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I think I enjoyed that more than Portsmouth... on 07:42 - Apr 4 with 2019 views
Great post 1BH and I agree with all you said. It wouldn't have been unjust to have scored 3 or 4 yesterday, whereas the Portsmouth scoreline rather flattered us.
But more than the goals, it was the performance that really impressed. As good as it was though, I couldn't help wonder what it would have been like if Madsen, Burrell and Chair had been playing, despite Morgan, Kolli and, of course, Smyth, all playing really well. It would be premature to be excited about next season but...
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I think I enjoyed that more than Portsmouth... on 09:29 - Apr 4 with 1798 views
I thought the performance for 80 mins was far better yesterday than the Portsmouth game, really controlled the game with and without the ball and had spells where we stepped up and blew them away.
I think I enjoyed that more than Portsmouth... on 09:30 - Apr 4 by daveB
I thought the performance for 80 mins was far better yesterday than the Portsmouth game, really controlled the game with and without the ball and had spells where we stepped up and blew them away.
I’m wondering are we seeing a distinctive attacking Julieball at last, rather than mostly pure 4-4-2 long-ball pragmatism. Bursts of quick passing and movement to get forward in a fairly narrow channel before switching the ball over to the by then less defended side. We saw it in the first half of the Leicester (home) and Wrexham games, and the second half against Coventry. Watford were apathetic enough to allow us to keep it up most of the game.
[Post edited 4 Apr 10:21]
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I think I enjoyed that more than Portsmouth... on 10:07 - Apr 4 with 1674 views
I think I enjoyed that more than Portsmouth... on 09:30 - Apr 4 by daveB
I thought the performance for 80 mins was far better yesterday than the Portsmouth game, really controlled the game with and without the ball and had spells where we stepped up and blew them away.
The first half was a super performance. Deserved to be 3 up.
Watford were not at it at all. Very little intensity and not much work rate. But we played some very good stuff in the first half. Our best half since the Leicester home win.
It’s that sort of performance that makes me think Stephan might be the man to progress us given more time. He certainly warrants another season (as did Cifuentes). I hope we give him it.
As others have said, we don’t need loads of signings this summer, we just need to get the squad fit and available.
One minor caution: the drop off in performance after we’d replaced Vale and Smyth with Poku and Saito was huge. Out of possession those two looked clueless.
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I think I enjoyed that more than Portsmouth... on 10:29 - Apr 4 with 1605 views
Interesting game. Agree with the poster who called out Morgan; he was great in the 1st half. And also the late dip in intensity which coincided with Smyth being subbed for Saito. Personally, I just assumed the team had collectively run out of puff a bit. But Smyth was having another fantastic game. His last two or three games have been some of his very best. So maybe it was that.
I looked at the possession stats at HT and was surprised that Rangers had both dominated possession (55%) and play. Although that dropped well down in the 2H.
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