Ratings & Reactions: Watford v Villa

[Don_Simon]

7 minutes ago, calcifer said:

After one game? Seriously? Our pre season was a mess with the whole Greedlish saga, games getting postponed etc. Arsenal got beat by Brentford 2-0, Leeds got thrashed 5-1, I bet their fans are not as wet as some of our 'fans' 

You've heard of AFTV, right?

[ThunderPower_14]

We clearly set up all wrong. It just didn't work at all and it was only once we got Ramsey on that we had any sort of cohesion when moving the ball forward.

The defence was completely at sea. Targett was incredible last season but looked like he hadn't stepped on a pitch in 6 months.

Next game, start Bailey and Traore over El Ghazi and Young thanks.

[rjw63]

[KentVillan]

9 minutes ago, PaddytheVillan said:

Relegation scrap coming. 

We looked utterly terrible in every department. 3-1 flatters us, well played Watford. 

You didn't even get the score right 

Terrible first half, but Watford's second goal was very flukey.

We looked the better side when Bailey (especially) and Traore came on, and with Young dropping to LB.

I think Smith will find a formula, but it will take a few games.

[StefanAVFC]

Both full backs incredibly poor, Martinez poor for the 1st goal. McGinn pants deep but better pushed up.

Bailey good, Traore good

[ChicagoVillan1983]

Just now, PieFacE said:

Cash was terrible
Nakamba is powder puff 
Buendia looked a million miles off it
Bailey looks ace
Traore looked bright.

Smith got it completely wrong today. 

He got the first half completely wrong, agree. But his changes worked and we looked much better.

[Jareth]

Not the level we will be at in 5 games time. 

[PieFacE]

But credit to Watford too. They looked like a pretty solid team who knew exactly what they were doing. Made it very difficult for us. 

[Mantis]

Massive issues, midfield chief among them.

[Gary Thomas]

Selection was all wrong and we looked miles off it.

Much better second half with changes. Lots of WORK to do.

[PieFacE]

Just now, ChicagoVillan1983 said:

He got the first half completely wrong, agree. But his changes worked and we looked much better.

Yeah I agree. Unfortunately was too little too late. 

[Stevo985]

Diabolical. 

3-2 is a travesty to be honest. We were absolutely shit today.

Lots of work to do

[TheMightyVillans]

too many players not match fit.

I wonder if a manager like Tuchel would have taken off targett in the first half. Sarr won the game in the 1st half. 2nd half looked better. Ramsey made a difference and traore/bailey looked bright.

This is why we should be cashing in on el ghazi if we have the chance. 

[CosmicVillan]

Personally I think we've had a very disruptive pre-season and it really showed today.

The Gresford saga dragging on - Terry leaving - ROK leaving - Friendlies cancelled - Bailey in the door late - Watkins injured.

Not making excuses but I think we are 2-3 games behind where we need to be. At least Deano took Targett off at H/T when he was clearly having a mare but part of it down to having no protection down that side against a very good Sarr.

Not hitting the panic button just yet but Watford won't be in the bottom 3 and we won't be in the top 7-8 on this showing.  

Edited August 14, 2021 by CosmicVillan

[regular_john]

We looked like a team who hadn't had much of a pre-season. I think it'll be a slow start this year, probably another 3 or 4 games before things start coming together.

 

Thought Ramsey and Bailey both had a big impact when they came on, as did Traore to a lesser extent.

 

Otherwise, pretty poor throughout but no cause for alarm just yet

[KevtheRev]

9 minutes ago, Rodders said:

Disgusting performance, disgusting result. All hope for the season has drained from me. Contemptibly bad performance.

**** you Dean.

Only 1 game? Seriously!

[TheStagMan]

Annnnnnd let the meltdown begin. 

 

Cue lots of calls from the usual suspects calling for Smith to be sacked.

Cue the panic about us being relegated this season. 

 

by all means be pissed off about the loss - I am. But the over-reaction in here tonight will be something to behold. 

 

One game in against a resolute and organised Watford. With a team that has had a massively disrupted pre-season and some players who have never played together before, some of our best players out injured or not back from the summer break yet, as well as one only arriving a couple of days ago.

Will take a few games for us to get up to speed. Sadly the bed-wetters will be in full chat by then. 

 

Oh yes, and cue the usual trolling from our resident Leeds fan.

Edited August 14, 2021 by TheStagMan

[calcifer]

1 minute ago, PaddytheVillan said:

Leeds got thrashed by Man Utd not Watford? And Arsenal should be panicking they looked awful. 

The Grealish saga was known about behind the scenes for months, Purslow made it clear we had been planning for it. For the past 5 seasons we've struggled with answers without Jack when he's been injured, and it should have been solved by now. 

I'm sorry but there were no positives from that utter garbage. Bailey looked decent I guess when he came on. 

1st game against a promoted team is always a banana skin, we were not prepared after the poor pre season. That told in the performance, it does not make the players garbage, the manger clueless, it was a poor performance and the better team won. We chalk it off and look to the next game. Once the players gel we will be flying! 

[Wainy316]

Result flattered us.

I want to see as little as possible of Nakamba and El Ghazi this season. 
 

Buendia was not right at all, but sure/(hope) he’ll be fine in the long run. 

[KAZZAM]

Think that result just summed up everything that went wrong.

Fitness: 4 preseason games vs Watford's 6 ,they were also back atleast 3-4 days earlier than we were.

Selection and formation : Anwar on the right? ffs, shouldve played 4-3-3 as we atleast should've been hard to beat. Post Jack we still need to learn to play without him.

Silver lining we effectively won 2-0 playing 4-3-3.