Match Preview: Watford v AFCB
CC: I feel that I should say congratulations - Watford have completed will have completed six games after the midweek match without changing managers! Seriously, how unsettling is it for Watford fans for them to keep losing managers?
FTREP: We know the model and credit where it’s due, it got us five seasons of Premier League football and hopefully the opportunity for more. However, whilst the majority of fans are fully versed in justifying our approach to the manager, sorry, Head Coach recruitment policy, there is an appetite to have some sort of stability in the boss’ office. We thought we had someone for the long term in Javi Gracia. However, he was let down by those in the boardroom. We had a platform to build on after the cup final season. Instead, weaknesses that needed addressing were not. Gracia was the fall guy and a series of bad decisions culminated in relegation post lockdown.
CC: Do you feel the heart has been taken out of the side with the summer departures?
FTREP: Not at all. I think most fans accepted that relegation meant losing the majority of our stars. And given the limp performances after the return of football at the end of last season, there weren’t too many tears when those players left. We’ve still managed to retain a subset of quality players in the likes of Sarr, Hughes, Deeney & Capoue. And with players that had previously been on the fringe or loaned out elsewhere such as Cleverley, Sema and Wilmot starting regularly and showing passion and desire in a positive start to the season, there’s a new and perhaps more aspirational heart to this side.
CC: What kind of feeling do you get about Vladimir Ivić so far? Is he looking like a good tactician and man manager in what he has said and done so far?
FTREP: In the current situation, it’s very hard to feel a connection to the club, players and coaching staff. However, there is no denying that Vlad has started well. We are looking incredibly solid with only two goals conceded in the league so far this season. In an attacking sense, there is still work to be done and the style of play has occasionally been hard watching. And whilst we may have been missing some of our attacking talent through injuries and suspensions early doors, Ivić has not hidden behind this. Despite picking up points in games, he has been honest enough to say he expects more going forwards. He has also said from the start that he only wants players that want to play for the club. There was no pandering to the want away group of players. And that in itself endeared him to the fans.
CC: What do you make of Watford's start to the season now you are in the top six?
FTREP: We have been very much in a state of flux during the season start, biting our nails ahead of the international and domestic deadlines, hoping we could hang on to the players we wanted to give second chances to. During this tumultuous time, pending and potential transfers and the aforementioned injuries and suspensions left the squad looking thinner than originally anticipated. Whilst academy products making their debut is always a good thing, seeing Dan Phillips, who had spent time at National League South neighbours Hemel Hempstead the previous season, was not a sight Watford fans were used to after five years in the upper echelons of the English game. Expectations were high, but the early team sheets were perhaps a reality check on what relegation to the Football League brings. The start is exactly what was needed and there shouldn’t be too many complaints. Now with the transfer dealings done, until 2021 anyway, we have a solid foundation to build upon and push on.
CC: Jao Pedro has made a good start. Do you think he could be one of the best strikers in the Championship?
FTREP: The potential of our young Brazilian frontman is definitely there. The recent match-winner at Derby was an early goal of the season contender in a game that was always going to be decided by either a mistake or a moment of magic. The goal may have bought him some attention from a wider audience, but Watford fans will have noticed other qualities in those early games. He is very comfortable with the ball at his feet and also has the vision to play a defence-splitting pass. But what has stood out for such a young man is his willingness to fight and battle. Not attributes usually associated with Brazilian strikers, but ones definitely needed for a long Championship season against experienced second level defenders. Whether he gets deployed as an out and out frontman, or given a wider role alongside a returning Deeney or new Croatan striker Stipe Perica (with Sarr the other side… please!), we hope to see a lot more of him this season.
CC: Do you expect Bournemouth and Norwich to be among your main rivals for promotion this season?
FTREP: I think all three sides are well equipped to have a stab at an immediate return this season. Norwich have retained the services of Buendia and Cantwell who are both top talents for this level. And although the Cherries have lost the likes of Aké, Fraser and Wilson, they still have a core of players that have performed well for the club in recent seasons and some exciting young talent. I think you did well to hang on to Brooks. If he can stay injury-free, then he will cause havoc in this league.
AdvertisementCC: Why do you think Watford have struggled to score many goals in their first five games?
FTREP: The initial tactical focus has been on keeping it tight at the back, starting with a back three, then just in front of them wing-backs and central midfielders who are happy to drop back and keep things compact, denying the opposition any space in attacking areas. The men you’d expect to be leading the line in Deeney or Gray being injured, Perica suspended for three games and the on-loan Glenn Murray not quite hitting form as yet alongside the defensive approach, goes some way to explaining the low scoring games we have been involved in. We’ve also seen the opposition match us on occasion and play three at the back. This has had the effect of each side cancelling each other out, leading to cautious and uneventful matches. Having said all that, we’ve emerged from our home game against Blackburn with a 3-1 win, doubling our league goal tally. Whilst the possession and shots stats were dominated by Rovers, the quality of play from Watford when we had the ball in the final third was much better and we perhaps should have had a couple more goals to our name.
CC: Have you got any major injuries ahead of the Bournemouth game?
FTREP: Will Hughes and Andre Gray are yet to play this season and are still working their way to full fitness. Troy Deeney played a brief cameo against local rivals Luton, but has been out injured otherwise. Etienne Capoue may make his first start of the season after coming off the bench against Blackburn. He was absent at the start of the season whilst his future at Watford was in doubt. Sarr was rested at Derby after returning from the international break, but came back into the side against Blackburn and will hopefully keep his place.
AdvertisementCC: Give us a score prediction?
FTREP: I’m sticking with the low scoring theme that has been running through the majority of our league programme this season… 1-0 to the Hornets!
Bogger Interview: From The Rockery End
Twitter: @Watfordpodcast
Twitter: @Watfordpodcast
CC: I spoke with Jason at From The Rockery End this week about Watford's start to the season and wanted to get his thoughts ahead of the big clash with Bournemouth. We always have a feisty game with Watford and I suspect that this weekend's match will be no different.
FTREP: We know the model and credit where it’s due, it got us five seasons of Premier League football and hopefully the opportunity for more. However, whilst the majority of fans are fully versed in justifying our approach to the manager, sorry, Head Coach recruitment policy, there is an appetite to have some sort of stability in the boss’ office. We thought we had someone for the long term in Javi Gracia. However, he was let down by those in the boardroom. We had a platform to build on after the cup final season. Instead, weaknesses that needed addressing were not. Gracia was the fall guy and a series of bad decisions culminated in relegation post lockdown.
CC: Do you feel the heart has been taken out of the side with the summer departures?
FTREP: Not at all. I think most fans accepted that relegation meant losing the majority of our stars. And given the limp performances after the return of football at the end of last season, there weren’t too many tears when those players left. We’ve still managed to retain a subset of quality players in the likes of Sarr, Hughes, Deeney & Capoue. And with players that had previously been on the fringe or loaned out elsewhere such as Cleverley, Sema and Wilmot starting regularly and showing passion and desire in a positive start to the season, there’s a new and perhaps more aspirational heart to this side.
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The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order
FTREP: In the current situation, it’s very hard to feel a connection to the club, players and coaching staff. However, there is no denying that Vlad has started well. We are looking incredibly solid with only two goals conceded in the league so far this season. In an attacking sense, there is still work to be done and the style of play has occasionally been hard watching. And whilst we may have been missing some of our attacking talent through injuries and suspensions early doors, Ivić has not hidden behind this. Despite picking up points in games, he has been honest enough to say he expects more going forwards. He has also said from the start that he only wants players that want to play for the club. There was no pandering to the want away group of players. And that in itself endeared him to the fans.
CC: What do you make of Watford's start to the season now you are in the top six?
FTREP: We have been very much in a state of flux during the season start, biting our nails ahead of the international and domestic deadlines, hoping we could hang on to the players we wanted to give second chances to. During this tumultuous time, pending and potential transfers and the aforementioned injuries and suspensions left the squad looking thinner than originally anticipated. Whilst academy products making their debut is always a good thing, seeing Dan Phillips, who had spent time at National League South neighbours Hemel Hempstead the previous season, was not a sight Watford fans were used to after five years in the upper echelons of the English game. Expectations were high, but the early team sheets were perhaps a reality check on what relegation to the Football League brings. The start is exactly what was needed and there shouldn’t be too many complaints. Now with the transfer dealings done, until 2021 anyway, we have a solid foundation to build upon and push on.
CC: Jao Pedro has made a good start. Do you think he could be one of the best strikers in the Championship?
FTREP: The potential of our young Brazilian frontman is definitely there. The recent match-winner at Derby was an early goal of the season contender in a game that was always going to be decided by either a mistake or a moment of magic. The goal may have bought him some attention from a wider audience, but Watford fans will have noticed other qualities in those early games. He is very comfortable with the ball at his feet and also has the vision to play a defence-splitting pass. But what has stood out for such a young man is his willingness to fight and battle. Not attributes usually associated with Brazilian strikers, but ones definitely needed for a long Championship season against experienced second level defenders. Whether he gets deployed as an out and out frontman, or given a wider role alongside a returning Deeney or new Croatan striker Stipe Perica (with Sarr the other side… please!), we hope to see a lot more of him this season.
CC: Do you expect Bournemouth and Norwich to be among your main rivals for promotion this season?
FTREP: I think all three sides are well equipped to have a stab at an immediate return this season. Norwich have retained the services of Buendia and Cantwell who are both top talents for this level. And although the Cherries have lost the likes of Aké, Fraser and Wilson, they still have a core of players that have performed well for the club in recent seasons and some exciting young talent. I think you did well to hang on to Brooks. If he can stay injury-free, then he will cause havoc in this league.
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FTREP: The initial tactical focus has been on keeping it tight at the back, starting with a back three, then just in front of them wing-backs and central midfielders who are happy to drop back and keep things compact, denying the opposition any space in attacking areas. The men you’d expect to be leading the line in Deeney or Gray being injured, Perica suspended for three games and the on-loan Glenn Murray not quite hitting form as yet alongside the defensive approach, goes some way to explaining the low scoring games we have been involved in. We’ve also seen the opposition match us on occasion and play three at the back. This has had the effect of each side cancelling each other out, leading to cautious and uneventful matches. Having said all that, we’ve emerged from our home game against Blackburn with a 3-1 win, doubling our league goal tally. Whilst the possession and shots stats were dominated by Rovers, the quality of play from Watford when we had the ball in the final third was much better and we perhaps should have had a couple more goals to our name.
CC: Have you got any major injuries ahead of the Bournemouth game?
FTREP: Will Hughes and Andre Gray are yet to play this season and are still working their way to full fitness. Troy Deeney played a brief cameo against local rivals Luton, but has been out injured otherwise. Etienne Capoue may make his first start of the season after coming off the bench against Blackburn. He was absent at the start of the season whilst his future at Watford was in doubt. Sarr was rested at Derby after returning from the international break, but came back into the side against Blackburn and will hopefully keep his place.
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FTREP: I’m sticking with the low scoring theme that has been running through the majority of our league programme this season… 1-0 to the Hornets!
CC: An absolute mountain of information from Jason there on the Hornets. Thanks to him for his generous time and detailed answers. I think not enough fans give enough merit to how important it is to have a good defence and Watford have started well at the back in only conceding two goals in their first six games. The form of Ben Foster has clearly been key in that and he even pulled off a penalty save in Watford's last match against Blackburn Rovers. Still, Watford may find goals hard to come by themselves and with Bournemouth's current unbeaten run, there has to be a good chance of this match ending in a draw or maybe even something more favourable perhaps for the Cherries if we can start putting away the chances that are being made.
You can listen in to From The Rockery End to hear their latest podcast.
You can listen in to From The Rockery End to hear their latest podcast.
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