ExiledGeordie

Big game for Howe this one off the back of Cambridge too

i think if it’s 0-0 well Into the second half it’ll be either an amazing strike/bit of play or a howler in defence that seals it for either side 1-0. I think with the crowd if we get at that defence early they’ll crack.

?

Mathematically it’s not over if we lose today but Christ when and who are we going to beat if we can’t be Watford today? They’ve been dreadful recently, we have to put them away.

I think if we deliver a limp performance and draw or worse crumble and lose it’ll confirm that unfortunately we probably aren’t going to be able to get over the line with most of these players with all the other pressure games to come. It’ll take further major signings to keep us up. I am feeling strangely confident in some way that the players might rise to it with the crowd. Wood to batter them, howay!

I am far more confident with Wood and Trippier in the team though. Solid characters at each end of the pitch. Actually fairly confident Wood will score.

Totally I can’t be arsed with going over a needless sending off or a horrific error at the back.

Can’t wait and yet completely bricking it. Think it’ll come down to which defence doesn’t fuck up more. I can see them really struggling to deal with Wood and I can see him scoring on his debut but I have nightmare visions of getting caught on the break. My worry is some of our players dealing with the pressure too.

Assuming he can stay fit I think he’ll be key to the second half of the season.

I could see Willock running onto knock downs from Wood better than Longstaff but he’s been equally woeful recently. Maybe Longstaff can pull a Man U performance out of his arse ?

Ah shite

Can Manquillo not play left back. Ritchie again, god no

It’ll be interesting to see the effect of having someone properly solid who can hold the ball up and solid in the air for knock ons and bringing others into play running on (ASM, Fraser, Willock etc). It also gives Watford a completely separate issue in terms of defence. They will be shitting it on corners and free kicks. Fwiw looking at his highlights, I’ve seen slower players too. Sure he’s not fast but he doesn’t look like the slowest striker we’ll have ever had.

Yes I think you’ll see a pacey, exciting forward come in this month too. Will be good to have different options.

well summed up

I no can see the logic in terms of a target man whose good in the air particularly as we’ve signed Trippier. If he comes in as one of two then fine but as the lone option far too risky.

And strikers are usually the hardest of the lot to find and sign

Agreed. His attitude and work rate is excellent but he’s absolutely powder puff in the final 3rd. He’s never going to score goals and he doesn’t look like creating them either.

That’s a good summing up there.

From Howe’s comments it sounded like he would’ve started

I was feeling pretty confident after Man Utd but the positivity has been splintered after yesterday ffs ?

covid

That’s definitely a blot against him yesterday but our squad is a terrible mix of culture of losing, acceptance of poor standards, and just not good enough. The whole core of the team will need replacing one way or another the next few years. I still like what I see and hear from him but the next few weeks are huge with the games coming up.

I actually think if Gayle is fit covid related he needs to start to provide some shape at least. Imperative we get someone in but it’s criminal we’re in this situation thanks to the previous regime.

Yeah the notion of watching a match where you can just enjoy the football without shitting yourself is alien.