Rival Lines
Match Preview
Watford v AFCB
Podcast Interview: From the Rookery End
Twitter @watfordpodcast
This week I had a quick word with Jason at From the Rookey End Podast. We all know that Watford have had a bad run of it, but there must be something fundamentally wrong at the moment at Vicarage Road. Perhaps Jason can shed some light on the situation?
CC: Why have things not been working out so far this season for Watford?
FTRE: Putting it simply we can't score goals and we can't defend. We have created a lot of chances in our games this season, but our finishing has been poor. The defensive issues had been apparent towards the end of last season and the attempts to address that over the summer have not been successful.
CC: Does the FA Cup final still have a legacy that has stayed in the players' minds or were there problems surfacing even before the final last season?
FTRE: In 2019 we have won more cup ties then league games. Towards the end of the season we were only able to beat already relegated Huddersfield and soon to be doomed Fulham. It feels like we were beaten before walking out on the pitch at Wembley, as opposed to our current predicament being a result of that game.
CC: Has the team deserved to be at the bottom or do you blame injuries, VAR or any other reason for some of the dropped points?
FTRE: We've had a few injuries including captain Troy Deeney, but by no means is it an excessive list. We do feel that we've not had the rub of the green when it comes to VAR. Handballs that should have been given in the lead up to equalising goals by Newcastle and Spurs spring immediately to mind. However, we should not allow this to cover up for some poor performances this season. The opening day defeat at home to Brighton and the absolute hammering received at Manchester City were difficult to stomach.
CC: Why do you think there hasn't been much of a bounce from the change in manager?
FTRE: In Quique’s first game in charge at home to Arsenal we did have something of a bounce. The second half performance by Watford was one of the most dominant we have seen at Vicarage Road for many a season. We should have won that game and that could have been the springboard to get our season going. However, this recent run of games has included trips to Manchester City, Wolves and Spurs. All very tricky games. Two draws in our last two games with solid performances to match will hopefully mean we are now starting to get things going and that “bounce” is not far away.
CC: Watford perhaps should have won against Tottenham last time out so can you see yourself out of the bottom three by Christmas?
FTRE: With the talent we have in the team we have the ability to get ourselves out of the bottom three by Christmas. The question that needs to be answered is do we have the mental strength to do that. Since we have been back in the Premier League, we have started each season strongly but tailed off towards the end. How we cope after such a poor start remains to be seen.
CC: Can you foresee another change of manager if the points don't pick up soon, given the Pozzo's history?
FTRE: The football world seems to be well aware of how the Pozzos operate. A lot of people and pundits are uncomfortable with it. The positive in all this is that they are quick to make decisions when they need to be made. They do not let situations plod along until it is too late to do anything about them. I would not see them changing their modus operandi if things weren’t to pick up in the next couple of months.
CC: What have you made of Danny Wellbeck since joining the team - four minutes wasn't much of a run out for him last game?
FTRE: Unsurprisingly, the club have taken things easy with Danny given his history with injuries. We have seen glimpses of what we know this ex-England international is capable of in a Watford shirt, but nothing more. In his first full 90 minutes against Coventry City in the League Cup, it felt to me like he was being asked to take it steady and, at times, just seemed to be on the fringes of the game. We hope soon that he can put his injury troubles behind him, and we get to see the Danny Wellbeck of old.
CC: Is Abdoulaye Doucoure the one player Watford can't afford to lose come January if they are to have a good season?
FTRE: Watford fans were pleased that we were able to keep hold of Doucoure over the summer. But to be fair his performances in the back half of last season and so far this season, have not been as consistent as they were in 2017/18. Last season Étienne Capoue was the standout player in midfield and when on his game, Gerard Deulofeu is a class act. Having said all that, come the January transfer window, it may not be a case of who we can’t afford to lose, but do we need to look at a changing of the guard.
CC: Five goals scored from nine games is a bit below par, so do you need a couple of strikers in January or do you trust in Gray, Deeney and Deulofeu to get you the goals you need?
FTRE: Following on from the previous question, we haven’t made wholesale changes to the team over the summer and not lost any players of significance. This team was able to score goals and from all over the pitch. On the face of it, we have the players capable of getting the goals. But most fans will tell you that centre-back and striker were the two positions that needed addressing and have done for some time. A fit and healthy Wellbeck is an exciting prospect but keeping him that way is the challenge. We do have some potential aces up our sleeves. Young strikers either on loan or to arrive on a pre-agreed deal. The Pozzo model is not traditionally one that throws bundles of cash at a player to solve a problem, and that’s what you need to buy a “proven Premier League goalscorer”. So, one of these young starlets may end up being the roll of the dice in the striking department.
CC: Do you think it is a good time to play AFC Bournemouth at home, as we can be a pretty inconsistent team?
FTRE: As far as Watford are concerned, I’m not sure that is the case. The consistent side of Bournemouth is the dangerous pace up front that always seems to cause us problems. I don’t see that changing this weekend, so we need to make sure we are on the front foot and giving the Cherries issues of their own to think about. What we certainly don’t want is a repeat of last season’s game at the Vic.
CC: What do you expect the Watford team to look like when it takes on the Cherries?
FTRE: Quique has recently looked to a back three to address our defensive vulnerabilities and that is starting to bear fruit. Well, okay, maybe just green shoots of recovery! I don’t expect him to divert from that, so we are likely to see a 3-5-2 formation on Saturday. If things go well for Prödl and Capoue, we may see them back and involved after injuries. Otherwise, the line-up, minus Danny Wellbeck, should be similar to the one that took to the field at Tottenham last week.
CC: Let's have a score prediction - is this Watford's first win of the season in the Premier League?
FTRE: Well I very much hope so! However, in the main the games between the two sides have been tight affairs with a splash of craziness thrown in! I’m going for an exhausting 2-2 draw!!
CC: Many thanks to Jason for braving the questions. Everything is still to play for at this early stage of the season but the pressure is surely on Watford. Bournemouth have to try and use that to their advantage and try and make Watford get frustrated. The Hornets are going to be trying harder than ever to get a win and Bournemouth's players need to be up for a real battle for every ball. The Cherries need to think back at how well they finished when they played Watford last time and hold it in their memories that Watford will want revenge. The Cherries will have to defend well and must stop Watford from getting that early goal.
To listen to the latest thoughts From the Rookery End - head up to the Watford podcast site.
Match Preview
Watford v AFCB
Podcast Interview: From the Rookery End
Twitter @watfordpodcast
CC: Why have things not been working out so far this season for Watford?
FTRE: Putting it simply we can't score goals and we can't defend. We have created a lot of chances in our games this season, but our finishing has been poor. The defensive issues had been apparent towards the end of last season and the attempts to address that over the summer have not been successful.
CC: Does the FA Cup final still have a legacy that has stayed in the players' minds or were there problems surfacing even before the final last season?
FTRE: In 2019 we have won more cup ties then league games. Towards the end of the season we were only able to beat already relegated Huddersfield and soon to be doomed Fulham. It feels like we were beaten before walking out on the pitch at Wembley, as opposed to our current predicament being a result of that game.
Advertisement
CC: Has the team deserved to be at the bottom or do you blame injuries, VAR or any other reason for some of the dropped points?
FTRE: We've had a few injuries including captain Troy Deeney, but by no means is it an excessive list. We do feel that we've not had the rub of the green when it comes to VAR. Handballs that should have been given in the lead up to equalising goals by Newcastle and Spurs spring immediately to mind. However, we should not allow this to cover up for some poor performances this season. The opening day defeat at home to Brighton and the absolute hammering received at Manchester City were difficult to stomach.
CC: Why do you think there hasn't been much of a bounce from the change in manager?
FTRE: In Quique’s first game in charge at home to Arsenal we did have something of a bounce. The second half performance by Watford was one of the most dominant we have seen at Vicarage Road for many a season. We should have won that game and that could have been the springboard to get our season going. However, this recent run of games has included trips to Manchester City, Wolves and Spurs. All very tricky games. Two draws in our last two games with solid performances to match will hopefully mean we are now starting to get things going and that “bounce” is not far away.
CC: Watford perhaps should have won against Tottenham last time out so can you see yourself out of the bottom three by Christmas?
FTRE: With the talent we have in the team we have the ability to get ourselves out of the bottom three by Christmas. The question that needs to be answered is do we have the mental strength to do that. Since we have been back in the Premier League, we have started each season strongly but tailed off towards the end. How we cope after such a poor start remains to be seen.
Advertisement
FTRE: The football world seems to be well aware of how the Pozzos operate. A lot of people and pundits are uncomfortable with it. The positive in all this is that they are quick to make decisions when they need to be made. They do not let situations plod along until it is too late to do anything about them. I would not see them changing their modus operandi if things weren’t to pick up in the next couple of months.
CC: What have you made of Danny Wellbeck since joining the team - four minutes wasn't much of a run out for him last game?
FTRE: Unsurprisingly, the club have taken things easy with Danny given his history with injuries. We have seen glimpses of what we know this ex-England international is capable of in a Watford shirt, but nothing more. In his first full 90 minutes against Coventry City in the League Cup, it felt to me like he was being asked to take it steady and, at times, just seemed to be on the fringes of the game. We hope soon that he can put his injury troubles behind him, and we get to see the Danny Wellbeck of old.
CC: Is Abdoulaye Doucoure the one player Watford can't afford to lose come January if they are to have a good season?
FTRE: Watford fans were pleased that we were able to keep hold of Doucoure over the summer. But to be fair his performances in the back half of last season and so far this season, have not been as consistent as they were in 2017/18. Last season Étienne Capoue was the standout player in midfield and when on his game, Gerard Deulofeu is a class act. Having said all that, come the January transfer window, it may not be a case of who we can’t afford to lose, but do we need to look at a changing of the guard.
CC: Five goals scored from nine games is a bit below par, so do you need a couple of strikers in January or do you trust in Gray, Deeney and Deulofeu to get you the goals you need?
FTRE: Following on from the previous question, we haven’t made wholesale changes to the team over the summer and not lost any players of significance. This team was able to score goals and from all over the pitch. On the face of it, we have the players capable of getting the goals. But most fans will tell you that centre-back and striker were the two positions that needed addressing and have done for some time. A fit and healthy Wellbeck is an exciting prospect but keeping him that way is the challenge. We do have some potential aces up our sleeves. Young strikers either on loan or to arrive on a pre-agreed deal. The Pozzo model is not traditionally one that throws bundles of cash at a player to solve a problem, and that’s what you need to buy a “proven Premier League goalscorer”. So, one of these young starlets may end up being the roll of the dice in the striking department.
CC: Do you think it is a good time to play AFC Bournemouth at home, as we can be a pretty inconsistent team?
FTRE: As far as Watford are concerned, I’m not sure that is the case. The consistent side of Bournemouth is the dangerous pace up front that always seems to cause us problems. I don’t see that changing this weekend, so we need to make sure we are on the front foot and giving the Cherries issues of their own to think about. What we certainly don’t want is a repeat of last season’s game at the Vic.
CC: What do you expect the Watford team to look like when it takes on the Cherries?
FTRE: Quique has recently looked to a back three to address our defensive vulnerabilities and that is starting to bear fruit. Well, okay, maybe just green shoots of recovery! I don’t expect him to divert from that, so we are likely to see a 3-5-2 formation on Saturday. If things go well for Prödl and Capoue, we may see them back and involved after injuries. Otherwise, the line-up, minus Danny Wellbeck, should be similar to the one that took to the field at Tottenham last week.
CC: Let's have a score prediction - is this Watford's first win of the season in the Premier League?
FTRE: Well I very much hope so! However, in the main the games between the two sides have been tight affairs with a splash of craziness thrown in! I’m going for an exhausting 2-2 draw!!
CC: Many thanks to Jason for braving the questions. Everything is still to play for at this early stage of the season but the pressure is surely on Watford. Bournemouth have to try and use that to their advantage and try and make Watford get frustrated. The Hornets are going to be trying harder than ever to get a win and Bournemouth's players need to be up for a real battle for every ball. The Cherries need to think back at how well they finished when they played Watford last time and hold it in their memories that Watford will want revenge. The Cherries will have to defend well and must stop Watford from getting that early goal.
To listen to the latest thoughts From the Rookery End - head up to the Watford podcast site.
No comments:
Post a Comment