[PL] Watford (A): Post Match

[McDermotX]

What an absolute embarrassment that was. United are being laughed at and even they are 5 points ahead of us! Any team that shows even the slightest but of fight against us.... we absolutely crumbled. Bunch of wimps and no real leaders. Massive job to do. Two up top and the diamond please.

Absolute windbags the lot of em today. Not one person in that team can look themselves in the mirror and say they gave their best.
What can you do when the entire team fails to perform, not the usual one or two. A new low in performance.

[Maxiedge]

We're missing a foundation that all teams need to build from ...solid centre backs and goalkeeper.

I'm 100% sure we'll go for at least one centre back and goalkeeper in Jan, along with a midfielder. Until then, just grin and bear it. I honesty think we can't judge the rest of the team until we stop leaking goals on tap.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

The Southampton win seems so long ago.

[Saveloy]

I'm glad I missed this game. Sounds immensely frustrating.

I guess it passed the PTP test of being able to tell in the first five minutes whether we're about to be abjectly ****.

Let's hope we raise our game for Leicester and make a couple of shrewd signings in Jan.

[Catrin]

I agree with Lec. On a decent pitch, against technical teams, we can be very very good. Against West Brom we were bullied by a big, strong, physical team. Today, add in a bobbly pitch to make it more difficult to play around them and we got battered.

The most disappointing aspect is that we had two CB's who are pretty big, strong guys, and yet they were outmuscled by Deeney and Ighalo. Where was the aggression?

[DannyMan2006]

I agree with Lec. On a decent pitch, against technical teams, we can be very very good. Against West Brom we were bullied by a big, strong, physical team. Today, add in a bobbly pitch to make it more difficult to play around them and we got battered.

The most disappointing aspect is that we had two CB's who are pretty big, strong guys, and yet they were outmuscled by Deeney and Ighalo. Where was the aggression?

This is it.

When we play the right players we can give anyone a run for their money when it comes to playing football. But in this league, you need to do the dirty side and win the right to play against a lot of these teams.

I fancy this squad would do very well in a a league like Spain or Italy & I fancy we have a good crack at the Europa this year if we can keep key players fit. But looking long term, we need an absolute brute in midfield who has the size & strength to muck in and help us muscle teams out.

Against Newcastle, West Brom & now Wartford we have essentially been out muscled. We then need to look at add pace in the attack. I don't think we are a million miles away as certain performances have shown. All we need is a bit of strength, power & pace to help beat these lesser teams.

I'm sure there are better & cheaper players available in other leagues, but a couple of players like Bolaise & Wanyama would really help us out. And it goes without saying, we need to sort out the striker situation. Either we get Benteke playing or we sell him on & bring someone else in.

[danperkins]

This is it.

When we play the right players we can give anyone a run for their money when it comes to playing football. But in this league, you need to do the dirty side and win the right to play against a lot of these teams.

I fancy this squad would do very well in a a league like Spain or Italy & I fancy we have a good crack at the Europa this year if we can keep key players fit. But looking long term, we need an absolute brute in midfield who has the size & strength to muck in and help us muscle teams out.

Against Newcastle, West Brom & now Wartford we have essentially been out muscled. We then need to look at add pace in the attack. I don't think we are a million miles away as certain performances have shown. All we need is a bit of strength, power & pace to help beat these lesser teams.

I'm sure there are better & cheaper players available in other leagues, but a couple of players like Bolaise & Wanyama would really help us out. And it goes without saying, we need to sort out the striker situation. Either we get Benteke playing or we sell him on & bring someone else in.

we are a very timid side with no leaders when the going gets tough.

[captainfog]

we are a very timid side with no leaders when the going gets tough.

Henderson isn't a captain. He should never have been given the armband.

[DannyMan2006]

we are a very timid side with no leaders when the going gets tough.

It's not even just mentality, it's the physical presence. Teams just basically run over us. You look at the Rafa team - midfield of Alonso, Gerrard, Masch, Momo. Power, ability on the ball, they had the lot.

[el matador]

Its better to have these bad days before Januarys transfer window. There's a few lads who are too average to play for this team and some who just aren't playing well enough. Its not klopps squad and he's doing the best he can. Some of our results have been fantastic and others abysmal.

You have to expect some **** and some good until klopp can build a balanced squad to play his game.

[DannyMan2006]

Henderson isn't a captain. He should never have been given the armband.

Who else would get it? Armband or not, if you're a leader you sort that rabble out. But in fairness, I don't think it's just character, it's physical strength we lack in the team in comparison to others.

[DannyMan2006]

Its better to have these bad days before Januarys transfer window. There's a few lads who are too average to play for this team and some who just aren't playing well enough. Its not klopps squad and he's doing the best he can. Some of our results have been fantastic and others abysmal.

You have to expect some **** and some good until klopp can build a balanced squad to play his game.

Be lucky to get the players we would need in January.

[captainfog]

Who else would get it? Armband or not, if you're a leader you sort that rabble out. But in fairness, I don't think it's just character, it's physical strength we lack in the team in comparison to others.

We're not blessed with much choice, but for me Sakho is the obvious selection. He's mentally and physically strong.

[npinn001]

I think we need a greater physical presence also

We can't battle and scrap in games when we have to

One of the biggest things we lack is pace

Our players are generally too slow and even in possession they dont move the ball quick enough

Look at Watford, Leicester and Palace. All have reasonably physically strong and quick players as well as moving the ball quickly

They buy athletic players. And inexpensive ones at that. Have felt for a long time we try to be too clever with transfers, and end up being anything but clever.

We should scour Europe for some tall strong athletic players. Look at hyppia. Has to be bargains like that out there still.

Players like firmino would look fantastic in a team that physically dominated and covered more ground and allowed him the freedom to do his thing, even if that means being absent for periods of the game, he can then go and have the moments of brilliance.

I'd get behind a more honest team too. Hard working players that haven't cost £20m here and £20m there. Would rather save and spend £40m on one standout player every few years than our current strategy.

[el matador]

Be lucky to get the players we would need in January.

We can get some of them - a decent goalie and a right sided centre back, we can do the major work to the attack in the summer. But trying to sort the defensive structure of our team in this window leaves us only looking at 2/3 quality signings further forward in the summer.

That way were not integrating another half a team in the summer.