19-10-2014, 08:59
Interesting team selection.
At first I thought I saw Hutchinson but I guess it was a mirage because he soon disappeared.
Hope was an option on the right but for me he was the fourth option behind Drenthe, Helan & Palmer. After his performance yesterday, I guess we won't see him again.
Madine for Nuhui was interesting. Madine was by a distance our best player until Drenthe came on. He won just about everything in the air, controlled the ball well and brought others into play but had little support.
Hutchinson was clearly injured after three minutes. Why then did he hurl himself into another needless tackle that probably puts him out until next year? Brainless!!
We effectively played the first half with ten men as Hopeless contributed nothing.
Watford walked through our rigid 442 with ease. We have been fortunate until this game to have played mainly teams that also played 442. Watford's flexibility made us look poor. Semedo struggled & Lee was anonymous. Even Westwood made a howler although the kick he had taken moments earlier may have contributed to it.
Everything changed with Drenthe's introduction - Pace, Purpose & Trickery.
It was clear that a goal was coming as the game opened up but at which end. Maghoma stung the keeper's gloves from 30 yards and Drenthe twice forced diving saves. Maghoma looked to be brought down in the act of shooting.
Nuhui replaced Lee but within a minute we were three down.
Drenthe was brought down for the clearest of penalties but the ref (unsighted & not helped by the lino) yellow carded him for diving. Loovens hit a post late on and we should have had another penalty for a boot in the face if the referee had shown any consistency.
Westwood - 4 - schoolboy error for second goal
Palmer - 5 - poor distribution
Lees - 6 - solid but little protection
Loovens - 6 - a rock amidst the carnage
Mattock - 6 - tough afternoon
Hope - 1 - totally out of his depth
Hutchinson - one minute he was there, the next he was gone
Lee - 5 - went missing
Maghoma - 6 - brightest of midfield
May - 4 - just not at it
Madine - 7 - the only shining light on a dark day
......................................................................
Semedo - 5 - easily beaten by Watford midfield
Drenthe - 7 - bright & inventive
Nuhui - 6 - held ball up ok
We would have lost this anyway even without the selection of Hope because Watford were too good for us. The tactics were wrong. Watford were bright, inventive & exciting. We weren't.
Taking of Lee when Nuhui came on was interesting & at least showed some invention but I have feeling that this time next week, we will be nearer the relegation places than the promotion places.
At first I thought I saw Hutchinson but I guess it was a mirage because he soon disappeared.
Hope was an option on the right but for me he was the fourth option behind Drenthe, Helan & Palmer. After his performance yesterday, I guess we won't see him again.
Madine for Nuhui was interesting. Madine was by a distance our best player until Drenthe came on. He won just about everything in the air, controlled the ball well and brought others into play but had little support.
Hutchinson was clearly injured after three minutes. Why then did he hurl himself into another needless tackle that probably puts him out until next year? Brainless!!
We effectively played the first half with ten men as Hopeless contributed nothing.
Watford walked through our rigid 442 with ease. We have been fortunate until this game to have played mainly teams that also played 442. Watford's flexibility made us look poor. Semedo struggled & Lee was anonymous. Even Westwood made a howler although the kick he had taken moments earlier may have contributed to it.
Everything changed with Drenthe's introduction - Pace, Purpose & Trickery.
It was clear that a goal was coming as the game opened up but at which end. Maghoma stung the keeper's gloves from 30 yards and Drenthe twice forced diving saves. Maghoma looked to be brought down in the act of shooting.
Nuhui replaced Lee but within a minute we were three down.
Drenthe was brought down for the clearest of penalties but the ref (unsighted & not helped by the lino) yellow carded him for diving. Loovens hit a post late on and we should have had another penalty for a boot in the face if the referee had shown any consistency.
Westwood - 4 - schoolboy error for second goal
Palmer - 5 - poor distribution
Lees - 6 - solid but little protection
Loovens - 6 - a rock amidst the carnage
Mattock - 6 - tough afternoon
Hope - 1 - totally out of his depth
Hutchinson - one minute he was there, the next he was gone
Lee - 5 - went missing
Maghoma - 6 - brightest of midfield
May - 4 - just not at it
Madine - 7 - the only shining light on a dark day
......................................................................
Semedo - 5 - easily beaten by Watford midfield
Drenthe - 7 - bright & inventive
Nuhui - 6 - held ball up ok
We would have lost this anyway even without the selection of Hope because Watford were too good for us. The tactics were wrong. Watford were bright, inventive & exciting. We weren't.
Taking of Lee when Nuhui came on was interesting & at least showed some invention but I have feeling that this time next week, we will be nearer the relegation places than the promotion places.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.