I believe John is an honest contributor to the team, but his comment has little to do with the underlying problems at Vicarage Road, that none of us in the Rookery have any knowledge of. Unless AB does something radical about training and particularly coaching there isn't a cat in hells chance of anything different to the apoligetic performance on Saturday actually happening. The players DO have talent but like all employees it is how that talent is applied through guidance from management. It's not rocket science, just find the right blend through change.

Shrodells,good points I think, old chap.It is now about belief and confidence with virtually no-one performing well.

eustace himself has been appalling since his return.

Our play is entirely predictable and easy to counter,and whilst DH wins lots of balls punted up to him,the second central defender is normally free to get the second ball whilst TP or NE stands and watches.

I would play Kabba for that reason and he is very limited but will at least put pressure on the second defender.

Hapless - you are clearly a wise sage sir.

Tell me, would you go all out attack from the start at Blackpool?

After all, we can still finish in the top six even if we lose.

If we sit tight and only nick a draw or lose and other results conspire against us, would we look back and think we should have done more about trying to win the game?

That is my main criticism in recent weeks: we seem content to stop the other team and see if we can steal the points, rather than being aggressive from the off and actually trying to win the game ourselves on the back of our own positive approach.

I think you have to look to win as only that gives you certainty.

As my old latin teacher JB used to say,"something,er maximus,something or other,vinci,er Mon,something,droit
carborundum,dulce et pro something"

Personally my own motto is THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH BEER!

Stop Press: Eustace admits Pope is a Catholic but Boothroyd denies that bears s**t in woods

Hapless - I'm with you. Far better to fail when you're having a real go for it than to be cautious and still get nowhere.

I'd actually be for us throwing caution and probably common sense to the wind and playing 4-3-3 with Henderson supported by Kabba and Smith.

We've been so predictable in personnel and formation that we could get off to a real flier if we started with something Blackpool were not expecting.

After all, the same old 4-4-2 with Henderson and Priskin hasn't worked at all.

Vicar Rage wrote:
Hapless - I'm with you. Far better to fail when you're having a real go for it than to be cautious and still get nowhere. I'd actually be for us throwing caution and probably common sense to the wind and playing 4-3-3 with Henderson supported by Kabba and Smith. We've been so predictable in personnel and formation that we could get off to a real flier if we started with something Blackpool were not expecting. After all, the same old 4-4-2 with Henderson and Priskin hasn't worked at all.

Totally agree, Smith is wasted out wide if he is not going to whip the ball in with real pace for DH to attack. But would play McAnuff and Smith in the supporting role with Eustace, Williamson and Bangura in the middle. Defence JDM/LB/DS/MS. Would leave NE on the bench at vicarage road and not tell him we were playing away..

Metal

Even at the risk of leaving us light in terms of 'midfield' bite, I'd play Eustace centrally and Williamson and McAnuff either side of him. We need to get the ball down, get playing into the feet of three forwards, and try to win the game. Bangura would a bit too 'agricultural' for my mind.

Agree with your back four.

I'd also have a keeper on the bench (imagine having to put an outfield player in goal in a game of that magnitude) and I'd also have two forwards on the bench. We've got the personnel in the starting 11 to revert to 4-4-2 or even 4-5-1 if we had to - but we need to have the options on the bench to be even more aggressive if things aren't going well.

MM,just a quick point old chap before dashing out to the old school reunion,donchaknow?

of your defence I disagree with JDM at right back(tried & failed) MS(out of form & JS playing ok) DS( all over the place saturday) Midfield(no goal threat without O`toole) and on FORM JE is worst of the lot.

Up front if you put TS there then bring in LA on right wing.

JM plays like a girl mostly.

for me it is RL/LD or AM/JDM/LB/JS then JJ,O`T/JE(just ahead of LW)then LA or TS/DH
then SK or TS then JM(no choice really)

I am clear that we need pace but if you want more insurance then you could play TS behind DH I guess.

Over & out!

It's not unusual for the fans to think that they can analyse their teams problems on the field! Frankly some of the issues are obvious.
Scunny had the 2 best attackers on the field in Forte and Hayes (sign 'em up if still in the Championship!) so what's wrong with ours ? I can only remember 2 shots - neither on target - in 94 minutes of play !!
Team selection poor -
stale players playing same stale tactics.
Crosses not attacked by players at near or far post.
Second phase ball not attacked at edge of their box.
Few quick corners, throws etc taken - our usual ploys are well known and ineffective often leaving a key player out of position.
3 right widemen used. We don't really have a lefty.
Full backs exposed by quick counter-attacks most coming from the keeper picking off easy crosses or our inability to pick up second phase ball.
Leadership on the field poor - JE and LB(hope he's back on Saturday) could sort this IMO.
DH presence is valuable away, but not usually at home where he has no space/time.
etc.etc.
The above is such basic stuff that it I hesitate to post it. However,I agree with above posters that we do have talented players but they are not always used to the best advantage.

I think maybe we need a complete rethink. At the mo Darius will win headers but they can go anywhere and in general are therefore easily defended against.

Priskin was often offside so it wasnt working. Also Tamas has always been good at getting caught offside this is not new.

I would def bring williamson back as JJ needs a rest.

When I watch baggies play KP hangs back and often in our games defenders head out into those areas maybe we could learn and Kabba/ellington/smit
h start looking for those balls

Eustace = absolutely correct that the performance wasn't anywhere near good enough let alone adequate but then that along with the results has been the case since the end of October, prior to that I recall that the performances were decidedly dodgy but we somehow managed to steal a result, we got found out, now we look like we could lose out, actually whatever happens with Homer and Hoofroyd it may not be a bad thing to miss out, just think ot the thrashings this bunch of wasters would get next season if the hand of fate returned us to the premiershit, mind you the loss of all those millions of shekels will have homer turning green

Lets be radical and play some fresh players. They can't do any worse than the current lot. Lee, Doyley, Bromby, Shittu,Sadler/Stewar
t,Ainsworth, Rinaldi, Eustace, Young, Smith, Liam Henderson. Subs: Poom, Stewart/Sadler, Darius Henderson, Williams (if fit enough)/Williamson, Priskin. That gives confident players a chance, brings in pace, keeps balance and gives versatility, with experience on the bench if things go tits up. It may be too late to experiment, but it is more adventurous than what we have had for the last 5 or 6 months.

Have you seen the team that is put out for tonight's reserve game? Not many first team squad players given a chance to improve their confidence or get some playing time under their belts before what could be the most important game of their lives. Potential first teamers playing tonight - Liam Henderson, Lewis Young, Gareth Williams and Al Bangura. Why not also Ellington, Poom, Williamson, Rinaldi and Ainsworth all of whom must be lacking both match fitness and confidence. Aidy says that playing in these games is not going to give them the sort of practice they need as there is a vast difference between the reserves and the Championship football. Surely it must be better than sitting on their a*ses all the time. There is another reserves match later this week, but the argument then would be it is too close to Saturday to play them. Can somebody please tell me what Aidy thinks the reserves are for?

Have you seen the team that is put out for tonight's reserve game? Not many first team squad players given a chance to improve their confidence or get some playing time under their belts before what could be the most important game of their lives. Potential first teamers playing tonight - Liam Henderson, Lewis Young, Gareth Williams and Al Bangura. Why not also Ellington, Poom, Williamson, Rinaldi and Ainsworth all of whom must be lacking both match fitness and confidence. Aidy says that playing in these games is not going to give them the sort of practice they need as there is a vast difference between the reserves and the Championship football. Surely it must be better than sitting on their a*ses all the time. There is another reserves match later this week, but the argument then would be it is too close to Saturday to play them. Can somebody please tell me what Aidy thinks the reserves are for?

When are you clappers going to stop talking about the play offs...we are going to lose next week and finish 7th or 8th.

Even then the spin doctors would argue that represents an achievement for "little watford".

Isn't about time we had a fans forum? I'd love to see the current leadership justify what has been one of the worst seasons in living memory.

if we started the season badly and ended it well,and had the same points as now,would there be the same messages being sent ,i dont think so.one more win and we in the play of, which is not a disaster,its a poxy football match,cheer up u moaning gits. p.s ive been supporting this mob since 1984,and have witnessed trevor senior,and boy he was ****.so cheer up.

There has been a very good point about the reserves, and playing fringe first teamers.

I just dont get AB's logic. Yet again he seems to be away with the fairies. He'd sooner leave players out and make them wait for a mere 5 minutes of first team football, rather than play them in the reserves and get match practice. Hitting the back of the net is a confidence build whether in the reserves of the third team.

How the hell are players like Mariappa, Rinaldi, Kabba etc ever going to get decent playing time if they're always overlooked for the reserves as well as the first team.

Its unbelievable logic, but there again most of what AB does or says these days is unbelievable. Lost it big time.

one short word


"out"

on a serious note anyone want to buy 2 tickets to blackpool cos I cant face it?

zip. would not want you in the trenches in the war. you would put up the white hanky and fight for the other side. why dont u just give up and support luton. total and utter joke fans like you.

wba 0 - shampton 1. easy league this isnt it a ? u lot aint got a clue abt football

1-1 now

Well done to WBA. They played more decentfootball in 90 minutes tonight than AB & his MUPPETS have managed in 45 league games this season. And WBA had an off night.

AB please pack your bags and leave this football club. You are not good enough.

I've just read through the last load of messages on here and can only agree that DeMerit will be gone soon due to that useless pile of cr*p Boothroyd.

I am thoroughly sick and tired of Boothroyd spouting utter tripe and yet again I am not going to watch them play this weekend as it would be hypocritical if I did. I do not agree with anything that the board and AB have done over the past 6 months and will not fund their pockets to continue ruining this club.

I've also received a very patronising email from Watford football club. I sent them a very very long email detailing what I think, and probably what most of us think, and really did not pull any punches. What was Watford's response to my understandable rant about how AB and the board have screwed the place up? Whoever gets the closest to their answer wins a tomato to pelt AB with...
P.S: It doesn't help that I now live in Hereford where the Watford Boys have excelled. Poor buggers will be wishing they haven't got to go back to Herts.

Maybe we are missing the blindingly obvious. Most of the current first team played in the Premiership and the first part of this season when we won plaudits and played much better football than recent months. So why has this confidence disappeared? Isn't it the players that have lost confidence in their manager. His decisions are as incomprehensible to them as to us the supporters. What were they supposed to think when he summarily sacked their captain Mahon and transferred him within a week. How do they understand his team selections and substitutions and the lack of a coherent game plan? Don't the players want rid of him even more than we do? Now that the sum of the parts is less than the total, can we ever win again until he's gone. It's been a long goodbye but hopefull lads it will soon be over.

i really think you lot need to stop calling for the managers head, or he will go and we will get some complete arse in who won`t do us any good whatsoever next year.
Overall aidys done a great job for us over the last three seasons with the players at his disposal.
We do however, need to change our on field tactics and start to really go at the oppostition, we don`t use our wide players enough which does not leave much hope for the forwards to get in round the back of the defence.
Still though the tactical decisions are for aidy and aidy alone to make, not us. we are here to try and cheer the lads onwards and upwards, yet the vic was like a morgue on saturday, our fans can make all the difference at a time like this. anyone who is going to blackpool f_cking sing your hearts out for the lads. Im dreaming of taking my twelve week opld daughter to her first watford game...at Wembley, so lets see em get there.

Hexham ,my good man,may I make a slight criticism before going off to the capital for a shareholders meeting?

Ok? well my point is,and feel free to tell me to get lorst of course, is that I suspect that you have not seen young Henderson or young Young actually play,Hmmmn?

Therefore,A bit reckless to risk them in a critical match like this ,I would say.

It also sounds as though young Henderson may be a similar type to Darius Henderson,big ,strong,rather than a front running type. If so it is an even worse idea if you do not mind me saying so.

Now ,I know that you love the club but(as my old Headmaster JB used to say) calmer,wiser counsel must prevail!

Mind you he also used to say that girls should be avoided and that Creepy colin was the best kisser he knew!

mattymashup wrote:
i really think you lot need to stop calling for the managers head, or he will go and we will get some complete arse in who won`t do us any good whatsoever next year. Overall aidys done a great job for us over the last three seasons with the players at his disposal. We do however, need to change our on field tactics and start to really go at the oppostition, we don`t use our wide players enough which does not leave much hope for the forwards to get in round the back of the defence. Still though the tactical decisions are for aidy and aidy alone to make, not us. we are here to try and cheer the lads onwards and upwards, yet the vic was like a morgue on saturday, our fans can make all the difference at a time like this. anyone who is going to blackpool f_cking sing your hearts out for the lads. Im dreaming of taking my twelve week opld daughter to her first watford game...at Wembley, so lets see em get there.

Did you go to the game on Saturday? The support was excellent for a lot of the game unfortunately the team decided not to respond to the support and gave up.

With a number of local lads in the youth set up and reserves, a number of us will know Watford players.

My experience from talking to one of those players, albeit very fringe, is that too many in the dressing room are unhappy at tactics etc and this is evident from the body language and play. Boothroyd and Simpson must know this, so there can be no other option but for Aidy and Simpson to come to a 'mutual' agreement this season end and he will leave. After all, they can't just replace all those players that are unhappy, can they?

It's sad, because I know Adie will come back stronger, it's just that he is too far down the wrong track here at Watford for it to get better..

Wes i will but your tickets!

Thank you for your wise word, fellow HH. The problem with your argument is that even if Liam is similar to Darius in style he is doing something that Darius is unable to do, and that is to score. He is confident and this would stay with him. Is it not just as reckless to play someone up front who is so short of confidence that he might as well not be there.

You are right I have not seen either Liam (he scored again last night) or Lewis play, but if they are putting in good performances then they deserve recognition, especially as the senior players are not performing. If the senior players see no real competition for places they will sit on their laurels and this could be part of the problem. Very few are showing good form but they don't care as they are being paid well and also do not see anybody coming in to take their place. Look at how JS has upped his efforts since Sadler came.

In your infinite wisdom how can you justify selecting players who for the last 13 matches have rarely performed? What would your old head, JB, say to these wasters? I think he would say to the youngsters that they should give it a go and remeber they are fighting for the dignity of the school. I don't think he would be impressed with the big boys and I think the prefects would have been demoted and some may even have been rusticated for lack of spirit towards the cause. My old school motto, Spiritus intus alit (the spirit moves within), is not reflected in the current team and letting the young whipper snappers loose and into the fray may see some spirit return.

Obviously you have gained much wisdom from JB, but by golly you must remember we are now in the 21st century and keeping the prefects in the team is not acceptable if they are not up to scratch, and letting the youngsters through is what WFC built their success on - remember Jackett, Terry, Callaghan, Barnes, Gibbs, James, Young, Bouazza et al all came through the ranks and there is no reason why the current crop shouldn't start doing so now. If we paly the current XI then we will not reach the play-offs and Blackpool will survive. If we change things then we stand a chance of getting the win and Blackpool could still survive if other results go their way.

Hope your vote at the shareholders meeting brought you more wealth and kept old Fortiscue-Smythe in place as the scrounging chairman that he is.

Would Aidy Boothroyd care to share some of the wisdom shared during the 1-hour 'lock-in' on Saturday?

mattymashup wrote:
i really think you lot need to stop calling for the managers head, or he will go and we will get some complete arse in who won`t do us any good whatsoever next year.
Overall aidys done a great job for us over the last three seasons with the players at his disposal.
We do however, need to change our on field tactics and start to really go at the oppostition, we don`t use our wide players enough which does not leave much hope for the forwards to get in round the back of the defence.
Still though the tactical decisions are for aidy and aidy alone to make, not us. we are here to try and cheer the lads onwards and upwards, yet the vic was like a morgue on saturday, our fans can make all the difference at a time like this. anyone who is going to blackpool f_cking sing your hearts out for the lads. Im dreaming of taking my twelve week opld daughter to her first watford game...at Wembley, so lets see em get there.

"with the players at his disposal" - Boothroyd has signed most of the players at some expense, has let some good ones go, and not strengthened the team in January when it was clear we were having major problems. He can't rest on one fortunate season for the rest of his career. Losing regularly would be tolerable if we tried to play some football, had a young up and coming team or displayed some commitment. This is his team, his coaching staff, his tactics and his problem. Stop trying to defend the indefensible.

Concerned wrote:
With a number of local lads in the youth set up and reserves, a number of us will know Watford players. My experience from talking to one of those players, albeit very fringe, is that too many in the dressing room are unhappy at tactics etc and this is evident from the body language and play. Boothroyd and Simpson must know this, so there can be no other option but for Aidy and Simpson to come to a 'mutual' agreement this season end and he will leave. After all, they can't just replace all those players that are unhappy, can they? It's sad, because I know Adie will come back stronger, it's just that he is too far down the wrong track here at Watford for it to get better..

Personally, I'm not sure of the logic of this statement. If the players are unhappy with the tactics (probably true) and it's fairly obvious that the current tactics are not working, then I can't see why AB can't be allowed to change them here. Why does he have to leave to do that? If he does leave, he would, in all probability, keep the same tactics going at another club - meaning a 2-3 year stint of the same & never a hint of "come back stronger".

If anyone should leave, it should be the players who aren't professional enough/can't be bothered to actually earn their inflated salaries - and at the moment that means a large percentage of the squad. Players can always be replaced - I think we could all accurately predict who will be leaving in the summer - whereas a decent manager is hard to come by.

Given his relatively short track record, AB is a decent manager, or at least will be when he learns to be a bit more tactically flexible, and a bit more astute in the transfer market.

And of course, not only does he have to change - there are plenty of posters here who don't actually qualify for the title of 'fans'............

Next year, we will be in the bottom end of the "div" if the manager stays, I remember one fan saying some ten weeks ago that we wouldnt even make the play-offs, how right he was

We can't batter teams into submission any more; 17 matches with predominantly the same formation have proved my point.
What we could do is change the emphasis and RUN at teams through midfield. We have the players in Smith, Mcanuff, Ainsworth & Ellington capable of doing it as we saw at times on Saturday (and more so when AJ was with us).
Players need to look for and support each other off the ball in midfield. So many times we see players not making runs as they expect the ball to be hoofed forward at every opportunity!
Suggestions; Option 1, 4-3-3 with Smith and Mcanuff in a 3 man midfield, given freedom to get forward with Eustace holding or Option 2, 4-2-1-3 with Smith playing in behind Henderson. Ainsworth and Ellington with freedom up front to play off or around Henderson. Smith & Mcanuff can both get the ball to feet through the midfield to Ainsworth and Ellington and we still have the options of the early/long ball to Henderson or Smith and McAnuff providing pace and width.
We desperately need more offensive options and we have the players to provide them.
In defence Demerit, Shittu, Bromby and Sadler or Stewart are the best defensive option and all capable of supporting deadball situations. What would we lose? We would be better going forward with more pace in midfield, still with pace wide and more variety. Its all plusses WE LOSE NOTHING! The players are crying out for more variety in attack. I won't criticise the players efforts as some do; thats not correct or constructive. Players given more freedom give more application in return and there is a big difference between application and effort.
Hold on a minute, I'm only a season ticket holder with 53 years watching Watford, what would I know? How could AB (5 minutes in the game) not know everything. Why would he take any notice of me when he won't listen to experienced people in the game.
AB there is nothing wrong with belief and conviction, but its recognizing when something isn't working and doing something about it that defines good managers.
AB, some advice; remember that you learn an awful lot more in life from listening than you do from talking!! Intransigence will be the end of you one way or another.

Just a thought. if this takeover does go through and we get say ten million to strengthen the team.. how many of you would trust AB with that money and not waste it on donkeys ? not many i bet !

keep the faith - we will scrape into play offs beat Bristol City in the semis & gt revenge on Palarse at Webmley. Theo is coming back from hereford to partner Player of the Season Tommy in attack - EASY EASY EASY

Andywatford, I reckon that if someone gave AB about £10m to spend, he'd go and buy someone ever crappier than the present bunch, someone so bad that he'd make NE look good, someone who is the epitomy of junkiness... yes, he'd go and buy Collins John. I'd put money on it I say.