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Peterborough United claim first away win and complete double over Hornets


Watford’s plight at the wrong end of the table has deepened after resurgent Peterborough United picked up their first away win of the season with a 1-0 victory at Vicarage Road this afternoon.

The Championship’s bottom club completed the double over the Hornets thanks to Liam Dickinson’s 51st-minute lob, capitalising on error of judgement from Scott Loach.

The Hornets tried to get back on terms but, worryingly, they failed to score for the third consecutive game for the first time this season in slumping to a fourth straight defeat.

Despite seeing his side lose their previous three games, Hornets boss Malky Mackay chose to make just the one change, with Tom Cleverley returning from suspension to replace Jon Harley.

Loach has been near faultless for the Hornets in recent months despite the poor string of results and he produced a great double stop to stop Peterborough from taking the lead on 12 minutes.

First poor communication in the Watford defence allowed Craig Mackail-Smith in and the former St Albans City striker tried to lob the ball over Loach but the keeper saved with his chest. The ball then fell to Dickinson and the England Under-21 international parried away the striker's powerful shot from a tight angle.

Watford had to wait almost half hour for their first real chance. The ball fell to the returning Cleverley 18 yards out but his volley was comfortably over.

The Hornets had another near escape shortly before the break but this time they had the post to thank.

Aaron Mclean was thrown the ball 20 yards out and he turned sharply and struck a first-time shot against the post, with Loach scrambling across the goal.

The visitors, who made a change at the break with the giant Exodus Geohahgon coming on for Sergio Torres, had the first chance of the second period in the 49th minute when Mclean fired narrowly wide of Loach’s right-hand post.

But Posh got the goal they had been threatening two minutes later – and it was a disaster for the Hornets and Loach, in particular.

The England Under-21 keeper bizarrely came right to the edge of his area to challenge for a ball, lost out in a 50-50 challenge and then could only watch Dickinson’s superb 25-yard lob sail over him as he back-tracked towards his own line.

Watford, spurred on by the Rookery, tried to respond, with Adrian Mariappa forcing Joe Lewis into a blocking save with the home side’s first on-target attempt and then Danny Graham missed the target from eight yards following a cross from Cleverley.

That was to be Graham’s last involvement in the game as he was replaced by Will Hoskins on 61 minutes and then Liam Henderson came on for Don Cowie 11 minutes later.

But another opportunity was not forthcoming until the 75th minute when Henri Lansbury was fouled on the edge of the Peterborough box, but Cleverley struck the resultant free-kick narrowly over.

The game was now being played almost exclusively in the Posh area and Mariappa was the next to try his luck with a right-footed shot from inside the area that Mark Little blocked.

But Watford survived another let off with six minutes when Loach tipped a header from Reuben Reid, who had only just come on to the pitch as a replacement for Mclean, onto the bar following a long throw from Geohaghon.

Still the Hornets kept pushing for the equaliser though, with Hoskins chancing his arm with an ambitious 35-yard effort that only narrowly cleared the bar, but that was as close as they came.

Watford: Loach; Mariappa (McGinn 85), DeMerit, Taylor, Doyley; Cowie (Henderson 72), Eustace, Lansbury, Cleverley; Graham (Hoskins 61), Helguson. Not used: Jenkins, Harley, R Lee and Hodson.

Peterborough United: Lewis, Little, Morgan, Zakuani, Griffiths (Simpson 75); C Lee; Torres (Geohaghon 46), Rowe; Mackail-Smith, Dickinson, Mclean (Reid 83). Not used: McKeown, Day, Crook and Green.

Bookings: Lansbury after 39 mins; Helguson after 90 mins.

Attendance: 16,591.

Referee: Anthony Taylor.

Comments(134)

Hornet Cornet says...
5:21pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Nearly 17,000 there, atmosphere was great yet we were cr4p again. Who's going to blame the fans now?

Sack Malky and get GT in. Sick of it all I am

dogwfc says...
5:21pm Sat 13 Mar 10

If we dont win on Tuesday i think we could be doomed. How does a team go from 6th by beating QPR and getting the shot in the arm of Doyley's first goal to then plummet to where we are now. I like MM but he must be losing the dressing room. Losing to Peterborough who have been so much worse than everyone else is worrying,. They have now doen the double over us.? DO we sack MM? WHo else can come in if we do? Is thi spurely a bad run that could be turned around as quickly. I would suggest not if we keep playing the same team. We need to make 4 changes for next game. Hodson, Bennet, McGinn/Jenkins and Hoskins/Buckley need to start. It is pointless playing this same team. There is not one iota of confidence left. I would say we have the games in hand - BUT - what does that matter if we lose them. Serioud thinking needs to be done by ALL in next week.

bishopofwatford says...
5:34pm Sat 13 Mar 10

well well well

what another performance that was

no shots on target in the first half..again

i really am beginning to wonder if it might be time for a new vicar

still at the beginning of the season i would have been happy with finishing fourth from bottom and still in business

it looks like the former is going to be the best we can hope for and the latter .... well we will see how interested in wfc "the good lord is " when cameroons boy fails to win watford

i think i will be paying for my 2010/11 season ticket by installments !!!

i must away and drain the font

keep the faith

Elton Bog says...
5:34pm Sat 13 Mar 10

That was abysmal. The only player who came away with any credit was HH, not for his play, but at least he seemed fired up.

The back 4 were pathetic. Doyley IS NOT A LEFT BACK. Even his head is right footed. Mariappa had a mare. Jay Demerit - don't get me started. Even Taylor was rubbish, came that close to making it 2-0.

Cleverley seemed to want to win it by himsef. The midfield were cr@p. Too many lazy passes, spooned up to no-one, too far and straight to the Posh keeper. I don't think we won a single 50/50.

These are largely the same players that impressed against QPR and Wednesday. What the hell has happened? I think Malky has run out of ideas. I wouldn't normally talk about changing managers, but im bl00dy seething at the moment.

a1derek says...
5:35pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Just got in, very disappointed that:-

Malky didn't make 3 or 4 changes.

That Buckley wasn't even on the bench.

The body language of some of the players was very poor.

That there was open dissent from Eustace and Loach towards MM

That we didn't force Lewis into even one save.

We were p*****d on by Peterborough...YES Peterborough.

Unless something really does change for Tuesday I fear we won't see any better then.

Just wasn't good enough.

If it doesn't get any better (quickly) we are going down!

Forces Hornet says...
5:35pm Sat 13 Mar 10

I can hear them singing all the way back to Peterborough, thank you very much for the 6 points Watford......and Can we play you every week.

Lets see what all you MM tree huggers have to say this week then?

I would like to add I'm enjoying some leave before i depart for Afghanistan so i emailed the club to ask what they are doing for the H M Forces as Help4Heroes day. I said i didn't mind paying like the everybody else and i would enjoy the day in uniform and help promote the charity.

I was really pleased with there reply......Nothing!

I love the club as much as the rest of you and of course i want them to stay up.....but MM never was the man to do this for us. So i'm not a turn coat because i have always had my doubts when they appointed him manager. 4 defeats in a row and no goals in 3 games. Anyone that can't see that we are in trouble are wearing rose tinted glasses.

I can't wait to hear MM post match reaction......NOT.

Paul_Caruso says...
5:42pm Sat 13 Mar 10

There needs to be a fundamental change from the bottom-up, red shorts and socks for the rest of the season

Watford_Writer says...
5:51pm Sat 13 Mar 10

A thoroughly deserved defeat to a Posh side who restricted us to 2 shots at goal all game. Loach looked jittery at times and was at fault for the goal, Mariappa was appalling, Cleverley was marked out of the game, Cowie showed why Scotland will never qualify for another major tournament and Graham couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo. The rest weren't much better. Even if we stay up, surely it is relegation next season without the loan players. Can't remember feeling so low about the Golden Boys for some time. Let's just be grateful the Russos didn't put us into administration or we would be dead and buried by now. Malky better turn it round quickly. But as this was a supposed First XI, with a full squad to pick from, I can't see how he will. Answers on a postcard, please...

Elton Bog says...
5:56pm Sat 13 Mar 10

If the same starting eleven start on Tuesday, I'll be disgusted.

Feff says...
6:00pm Sat 13 Mar 10

As MM does not want to change his losing team there seems no alternative but to change MM - yes, even this late in the season. He is too scared to be in charge. Pay someone with guts to take over for the last few weeks. It cannot be so costly, and certainly less costly than relegation, which seems inevitable under MM.

jasonwatford says...
6:07pm Sat 13 Mar 10

LOACH GIVES NO ONE CONFIDENCE...MARRICR
APPA IS WHAT IT SAYS...I HOPE DE MERITT DOES MARK ROONEY IN WORLD CUP...TAYLOR JUST HOOFS THE BALL...COWIE LOOKS LIKE A PLAYER BROUGHT FOR 50 GRAND.....HELGUSON AND GRAHAM MIGHT AS WELL HAVE ANT AND DEC.MALKEY IS A COMPLETE DONUT ON TEAM SELECTION AND CHANGES.IT IS A DISCUSTING TO WATCH......IM OUT

Hornofplenty says...
6:11pm Sat 13 Mar 10

The only positive I can take from today is.....erm....no seriously there must be one...ummm...nope...
..apparently not. Never wanted the sweaty - still don't.

djwatford says...
6:23pm Sat 13 Mar 10

That was awful but not unexpected based on our recent displays.
We cannot afford to change the manager so there is no point in discussing it.
We urgently need a striker as Heidar is looking tired and the other two can't score.
I don't think AM was that bad.He was certainly our most attacking player for much of the game!
We need to really get behind the team now otherwise we'll all deserve div 1 football next season.

Tricky Rick says...
6:41pm Sat 13 Mar 10

I have said all along that the appoinment of MM as manager was a monumental mistake and now this is becoming increasingly clear.

His dealings in the January transfer window - Taylor aside - have proven to be very costly. We needed to sign impact players instead of yet more inexperienced lads who warm the bench each week. As it is we are now left with a team with very little pace which has gone very stale and is now bereft of any confidence.

We must look to the emergency window for more striking options because this is where the major problems lie. H is not the answer, and Graham is so obviously out if his depth.

Tough decisions need to be made and fast but with GT at the helm this is unlikely. I unashamedly sang for Mackay to be sacked today and not one person objected. Anyone with a brain can see he has run out of ideas and has lost the dressing room.

Graham Taylor, you have done so much for this club, but you were part of the panel that appointed Mackay. If you have not got the guts to sack the manager, then please step down as chairman, otherwise you will be just as responsible for our impending relegation as Mackay.

I urge all fans who care about this club to vent their anger at the manager on Tuesday. WFC supporters have always been too loyal and no one man is bigger than the club. Mackay is not management material and unless you want to see a return to the lower divisions he MUST BE REMOVED! There is still time for a new management team to instill belief and discipline and turn this mess around.

Glen Roeder was shown the door after an equally dreadful run and he could claim to have been blighted by injuries. It is time for Mackay to go.

MACKAY OUT MACKAY OUT MACKAY OUT MACKAY OUT!!!!

BTW - family day....when is the club going to grow some balls. I do not want to see push chairs and 4 year old girls at a football match. It is not an appropriate enviroment for young children....neither is it an appropriate environment for middle class softies and bleeding hear liberals who object to bad language....if you don't like it **** off!

Spencer Hutchinson says...
6:43pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Well its time to go MM before you take us into Div 1, there is nothing to say, the team was bad, and nobody can put the ball in the net, so so dissapointing

pfwhornets says...
6:50pm Sat 13 Mar 10

I think it's all over.....

Ipswich (H) 0-1
Cardiff (A) 0-2
Sheff W (A) 0-1
Middlesbro' (H) 1-1
Palace (H) 1-0
Preston (A) 0-0
WBA (H) 0-3
Plymouth (H) 2-0
Leicester (A) 1-2
QPR (A) 0-2
Reading (H) 1-0
Coventry (A) 0-3

11 points and I'm being generous, makes 50. Unless there's a remarkable change of fortune we're down.

WatfordRuss says...
6:56pm Sat 13 Mar 10

How do you stop a sinking ship change of manager worked when we good Aidy hoofroid in yes but not sure it will happen now . We can pull this around but MM need's to change the team , but its quite clear we need to drop Marriapa eustace and either graham or heider then we might see a change

Mediahornet says...
7:00pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Tactically inept today. No plan despite the clear weaknesses in their team (the leftback for god's sake?!).

Damming the crowding of Loach at corners after Gannon's pre match commentary and so much wrong with that team we are only going one way.

The buck stops with MM.

herts hornet says...
7:06pm Sat 13 Mar 10

same team last three games apart from TC today ,NO GOALS in any games ,NO POINTS in any game ,two of the teams played were beLow us when we played them ,no left footed players ,the embarressment that is our left side when the players like Doyley check back on to right foot ,the joke that Harley is not left back and the woeful Marriappa is not replaced by Hodson ,Hoskins again does not start for the rubbish Danny Graham
This is disgusting an insult to those of us forking out to watch this dross MM picks same players week in week out ,talk about not changing a LOSING side !! ,we did not have a worthwhile shot on goal ,p'boro scored and hit woodwork twice ,this is it for me the mangement team must be changed ,Graham Taylor turns up today to rally the fans ,you were also made a mug of GT ,do you have the backbone with your other directors to change this though if not WE ARE GOING DOWN

hemels golden says...
7:07pm Sat 13 Mar 10

That was cr#p yet again...shocking really, we had 2 shots on target against a team who have not won a single game away from home,Malky is out of his depth he is absolutley clueless when we go a goal behind and if he insists on picking the same bloody team every week then things will not change and we will be relegated. I cant think of one player out there today who id say had a good game,and dont get me started on Danny Graham the most useless excuse for a striker since Dom Foley, so many changes need to be made with that team but come tuesday we all know what the starting 11 will be!!! time to hold your hands up Malky and admit your not the man for the job!

herts hornet says...
7:14pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Yes lets wait for Tuesday team ,if somehow MM survives to pick it ,no doubt same back four ,same front two ,Total Joke ,Mark Cooper in his ill faited spell as P'boro manager only won one game guess against who ,now first away win of the season for P'boro and again guess who against ,we have been beaten home and away by the bottom club P'boro yes they have done the double over us ,MM and Dyche OUT !

MJ1 says...
7:36pm Sat 13 Mar 10

The problem is not the quality of the players or the selection - it is the management and motivation of the players. AM played most matches in the Premiership and is usually effective. DG can score goals but now looks like he'll never score another. DC has been brilliant in some matches and now looks like a shadow of himself. The loanees look like they've lost their way. After the 1st half performance against Swansea I felt there was still hope that MM could turn it round. Now I have no faith. Its not possible to see where the spiral will end except in relegation. We have a squad that is Championship standard but we dont have a management team that can keep us up. Only change will do that. Over to you GT.

garston edl says...
7:38pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Well well well! Where are you, the MM supporting mugs from last week? Today proved you know nothing about football. Blind happy clappers. You gonna blame today's disgrace on Boothroyd or possible administration?! Peterborough were rubbish, we were a disgrace. I didn't boo at all in the ground and got fully behind the team but i have every right to say how disgusted i am with out management team on this messge board.

rousman 2 says...
7:48pm Sat 13 Mar 10

We need to get two players on loan one a striker that can a least hit a barn door & the other a centre back or a midfield player take your pick. with the players we have Hodson right back, Harley or anyone with a left foot at left back, bring back Jenkins in midfield, give hoskins a run in the side. It does not matter if you agree or not at least the word change springs to mind, something MM will not do. if you pick the same players week in week out you get the same results. we need change & quick otherwise we will go down & what would that cost !!

hornet4eva says...
7:52pm Sat 13 Mar 10

agree totally with MJ1. This team has enough quality to finish mid table. However, the management team of MM and SD are definite relegation material. What was Buckley bought for if now hes fit he can't get on the bench of a side in free-fall? Bet hes wishing he stayed at Rochdale...at least they will be a team on the up in League 1 unlike us who will be very much a team in decline in League 1. Hate calling for sacking of managers so MM do the honourable thing....

Johnny Ryden says...
8:26pm Sat 13 Mar 10

There is a saying "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got". In the case of Watford, the same defence always finds another way each game to make a slip or two and never gets a clean sheet; the same forwards are unable to provide width, crosses or create chances and they don't shoot so they don't score. Change it now Malky and liven it up fast!

Wags it all about? says...
8:37pm Sat 13 Mar 10

bookies are tipping a sure-fire new no.1 record for May...

"Relegation" by Julian Winter and the nodding dogs (special re-mix edition featuring the tax exile from Belize)

We all want to see our team do well and play to their realistic potential - for me that was 4th from bottom at the start of the season.

However, when the foundations of the club continue to crumble ever more perilously is it any wonder?

We have a joke of a management team, led by Winter (Mark Ashton appointed incompetent) and a team of nodding dogs and hangers on.

And the nutty professor templeton and his board are ineffective light weights that have no real authority or financial stake in the club.

GT you've done great things for this club but sadly you are out of your depth and have backed the wrong horse in Ashcroft.

As the bishop has wisely pointed out above , I also believe Ashcroft's campaign money will indeed be wasted concering the watford seat.

Until current incompetents are cleared out - and be assured it is coming - we have to accept the reality of a club and team which are in free fall.

Despite this self inflicted disaster, I will keep supporting my team. However, as we have plainly seen in the last three home games, I am preparing myself for the reality of league one footbal next season.

garston edl says...
8:39pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Pfw hornet - i admire your optimism!

apatters says...
8:46pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Glad I stayed at Bicester Village! First time I've read comments on W.O. site and everyons agrees. This is where MM shows his credentials - the next 3 matches. Couldn't believe team selection; Mariappa must be in the worst form of his life and needs a break. Let's have a look at some of the youngsters in the Academy - it can't get any worse. Remember when Ashley Young first played a full game, if they're good enough they're old enough. Thank God we had that good run at the sart of the season or we'd be gone by now.

WFC4L says...
8:48pm Sat 13 Mar 10

I thought Lansbury and Loach were the only players with credit today (Loach was no way at fault for the goal. Players stood off, hopeful pass, everyone stood still, poor marking, Loach had to come, got there in what was a50/50! How no-one had the intelligence to think 'hold on, our keepers out of goal, maybe i should GET ON THE F*****G LINE!!! Neone with a brain would of got on the line). How he can put out the same 11 beggers belief. Buckley is quick, skillfull, exactly what we are crying out for. We are sooooo predictable, try and play it aout for a bit, look like were gunna lose it, hoof, lose the ball, Defence looks unbelievably vulnerable; agains swansea kuqi had 2 free header b4 his free header he scored from. Mackay's belief that WB & SM need 6 months to settle is incredible, 2 weeks at max! If there good enuf, which they are as they came with good reports, out them in, especially when were playing s**t!!! If he plays same team against Ipswich ill be seething, and if he plays same team & we lose, get him out. This is not a time for patience as we need new ideas etc to stay up. Ive never felt so depressed about Watford. Go down we stay down, stay uo it looks bleak, 5 years of reconsolidation. Thats twice weve had horrendous runs in 3 years now. How we thre away our money i still havent got over. I remember when we had adam johnson on loean and we were running away with the league, only us could throw that away. God help s is all i can say. Put Harley in at left back. McGinn in for eusatce. Buckley in for Cowie. Sign a quick, nippy striker and put im in. Hodson in for Mariappa, i like him but his form is inexcusable at the moment. Bottome line is we need change, AND QUICK!!! How he hasnt changed the team before this is inexcusable and i would love to ask him how he has not changed the team b4 this, quite frankly UNBELIEVABLE!!!

ReadersWives says...
9:08pm Sat 13 Mar 10

In his first full season, Ferguson guided United to a
League runners-up position as new signings Viv
Anderson, Steve Bruce and Brian McClair made their
mark. This was followed by 11th position in 1988/89 and,
after a further threat of relegation, 13th position in
1989-90. The fans were not convinced by Alex Ferguson
and on his third anniversary as manager of Manchester
United a banner was unfurled in the scoreboard end
saying: "Three years of excuses; Ta-ra Fergie". Ferguson
remembers the period as 'Black December': "It was,
without question, the lowest, most desperate point ever in
all my years in management." (Alex Ferguson, Just Champion)

Hornofplenty says...
9:10pm Sat 13 Mar 10

ReadersWives wrote:
In his first full season, Ferguson guided United to a League runners-up position as new signings Viv Anderson, Steve Bruce and Brian McClair made their mark. This was followed by 11th position in 1988/89 and, after a further threat of relegation, 13th position in 1989-90. The fans were not convinced by Alex Ferguson and on his third anniversary as manager of Manchester United a banner was unfurled in the scoreboard end saying: "Three years of excuses; Ta-ra Fergie". Ferguson remembers the period as 'Black December': "It was, without question, the lowest, most desperate point ever in all my years in management." (Alex Ferguson, Just Champion)
Did he get them relegated from the championship? Pointless post....

garston edl says...
9:12pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Still waiting .......MM supporters from last week. You would have been on here in a flash if we'd won today, telling us how great MM is and how we should have trusted in him! Even if we win on Tuesday he should go.

Hornet Cornet says...
9:15pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Readers Wives, do shut up.

garston edl says...
9:16pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Readerswives - for every Fergie, who managed to turn it round, there's hundreds who didn't.
Clown.

ReadersWives says...
9:19pm Sat 13 Mar 10

garston edl wrote:
Readerswives - for every Fergie, who managed to turn it round, there's hundreds who didn't.
Clown.
Strange comment from someone who wants to turn the tide as well.

Hypocrite.

rookerynook says...
9:20pm Sat 13 Mar 10

I'm an MM supporter, but at the moment he's like a rabbit in the headlights. If you insist on playing the same team week in and week out, then that's fine if they're winning, but we're not. The result is that the team he picks becomes complacent, and those he doesn't demoralised. Better a player who may lack experience, but is as keen as mustard to keep his place. So it must be Hodson and Hopkins on Tuesday.
Thank you for "spurred on by the Rookery" - at least the subs gave it a real go. Before that it was all about our divine right to score, which of course we didn't.
No turning back now. COYH!

ReadersWives says...
9:22pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Hornofplenty wrote:
ReadersWives wrote:
In his first full season, Ferguson guided United to a League runners-up position as new signings Viv Anderson, Steve Bruce and Brian McClair made their mark. This was followed by 11th position in 1988/89 and, after a further threat of relegation, 13th position in 1989-90. The fans were not convinced by Alex Ferguson and on his third anniversary as manager of Manchester United a banner was unfurled in the scoreboard end saying: "Three years of excuses; Ta-ra Fergie". Ferguson remembers the period as 'Black December': "It was, without question, the lowest, most desperate point ever in all my years in management." (Alex Ferguson, Just Champion)
Did he get them relegated from the championship? Pointless post....
Wow ...a real timelord.

We're not down at time of posting.

Forces Hornet says...
9:26pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Has anybody heard the Post match reaction from MM yet? Its normally out by now.

Surrey Hornet says...
9:35pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Why is Mackay not changing the team, the current team lacks self-believe and ability, it needs to be changed, so do the tactics if Mackay has any tactics. Unless it is changed we are definitely going down and there is nothing we can do about it.

Forces Hornet says...
9:43pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Just read it......... What worries me is that he reflects on the team being camped in their half for 45 mins and we still can't score. Another dig at the officials for 2 penalty claims turned down and luck not being on our side.

Well MM i didn't see that coming! Lets hope we beat in form Ipswich on Tuesday. If not lets hope your Post Match Reaction might read...........Goodb
ye, lets see you get out of that!

I also hope we do win to get some feed back from you silent MM lovers.

SimonW, Godalming says...
9:47pm Sat 13 Mar 10

this result was no surprise to me, I said on here the other day that unless the team was freshened up or Cleverley's return did not inspire others then we may well get beaten, unfortunately none of these happened & we were dire, infact both teams were & but for (another) calamatious defensive blunder this game had 0-0 written all over it.
The decline in form over recent weeks has been staggering, we are now playing with no belief, no confidence, no idea & no leadership.
The manager is totally bereft of ideas & needs serious help from somewherere, there is no chance of a change at the helm & with this in mind there is no chance of our fortunes changing, we are on a downward spiral which is going to end in inevitable relegation & there is nothing (as supporters) we can do about it.
Accept it people - League 1 is beckoning!!

hemels golden says...
9:52pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Malky"we applied the pressure but once again today, we were looking for someone to go and make a difference and put the ball in the net,we certainly had 2 or 3 players that were pushing to do that, but at the end of theday the ball didnt end up in the net,even after a lot of pressure on their goal,but we've ended up without a goal" What game was he watching or who's he trying to kid,a lot of pressure on their goal!!?? we had 2 attempts on target!!! and who the 2 or 3 players were who were making a difference is anyones guess!

SimonW, Godalming says...
9:56pm Sat 13 Mar 10

sorry, forgot one thing - WHERE THE HELL WAS BUCKLEY!!!!

hornet4eva says...
10:10pm Sat 13 Mar 10

will the last one out please turn off the lights and shut the door..on our future in the Championship. A defeat to Ipswich and, lets face it, we deserve to go down. Our away form is woeful so you must win your home games! If we lose tuesday, we will have lost the last 3! Plus the teams down the bottom are all hitting form. thank god Palace had the 10 pt deduction or thats another place lower that we would have been. Im worried

Chris the Vic says...
10:34pm Sat 13 Mar 10

When he was substituted Danny Graham appeared irritated.

I have news for him, his strike partner, Eustace, Cowie and our defence...every paying person was irritated by too many players wearing a shirt, earning good money and not putting in the effort or caring. The team cept the loanees were hopeless, inadequate and looked relegation fodder. THEY let the club down and the fans...overall Jay and his motley crew were pathetic if not disgraceful and are on current form truly the worst team in the championship...malky as a manager is inexperienced and has little to work with...Hoskins like Graham and HH struggle with everything..one through age the other two through lack of talent.
The likes of Holton, Uphill,Scullion, Garbett, Mercer, Jenkins, Blissett etc would be embarrassed by our shirts being worn by such a bunch of losers and prima donnas.

Feff says...
10:48pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Mackay says that we had "two good penalty shouts": "we had a goal headed off the line": "we've had a good run of games". Why is he making such a fool of himself with all these mad statements? Is it because it has all become too much for him and all he can now do is kid himself - and us? He's a bit young for Alzheimers but I do really think that today shows that he has completely lost the plot.

derry pigweed says...
10:52pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Tricky Rick wrote:
I have said all along that the appoinment of MM as manager was a monumental mistake and now this is becoming increasingly clear. His dealings in the January transfer window - Taylor aside - have proven to be very costly. We needed to sign impact players instead of yet more inexperienced lads who warm the bench each week. As it is we are now left with a team with very little pace which has gone very stale and is now bereft of any confidence. We must look to the emergency window for more striking options because this is where the major problems lie. H is not the answer, and Graham is so obviously out if his depth. Tough decisions need to be made and fast but with GT at the helm this is unlikely. I unashamedly sang for Mackay to be sacked today and not one person objected. Anyone with a brain can see he has run out of ideas and has lost the dressing room. Graham Taylor, you have done so much for this club, but you were part of the panel that appointed Mackay. If you have not got the guts to sack the manager, then please step down as chairman, otherwise you will be just as responsible for our impending relegation as Mackay. I urge all fans who care about this club to vent their anger at the manager on Tuesday. WFC supporters have always been too loyal and no one man is bigger than the club. Mackay is not management material and unless you want to see a return to the lower divisions he MUST BE REMOVED! There is still time for a new management team to instill belief and discipline and turn this mess around. Glen Roeder was shown the door after an equally dreadful run and he could claim to have been blighted by injuries. It is time for Mackay to go. MACKAY OUT MACKAY OUT MACKAY OUT MACKAY OUT!!!! BTW - family day....when is the club going to grow some balls. I do not want to see push chairs and 4 year old girls at a football match. It is not an appropriate enviroment for young children....neither is it an appropriate environment for middle class softies and bleeding hear liberals who object to bad language....if you don't like it **** off!
Your comments on family day make you a very sad person !

Your other comments I disagree with but you are entitled to your opinion.

But Rick holden,tricky rick or whatever you wish to call yourself

Remember Watford F.C. is a family club.

PurpleRalph says...
11:26pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Alan Curbishley and Mervyn Day were in the directors box today. New Management team? - would be nice but unlikely. The wages required would be way off the Watford scale.
However he's got his West Ham compensation and is looking for a new club so we live in hope.

ReadersWives says...
11:27pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Watford fans too loyal?

'Boothroyd out, Rodgers out, Mackay out.....'

By the same old myopic backstabbers.

Surrey Hornet says...
11:31pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Oh Well! At least when we are in league one there will be a few more away that are a bit closer we can all go to. eg. Brentford , Leyton Orient, Southampton, Charlton?, Millwall?
Also on the bright side, ticket prices may go down as well, so we may get a few more people into the ground.

Surrey Hornet says...
11:36pm Sat 13 Mar 10

PurpleRalph wrote:
Alan Curbishley and Mervyn Day were in the directors box today. New Management team? - would be nice but unlikely. The wages required would be way off the Watford scale.
However he's got his West Ham compensation and is looking for a new club so we live in hope.
Your right they can't afford him, heck they couldn't even afford me.

Richard - Come On You Golden Boys! says...
11:39pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Absolutely Dreadful. The players are so scared of losing they can't win. We need to freshen things up on Tuesday and give Buckley, McGinn, Hodson & Hoskins a chance to show what they can do from the start. Come on Malky, it's time for some real Braveheart action, you must look the players in the eyes and pick a team that believes it can win, no time for losers. It's now or never mate!

And the supporters? Cut the abuse, Get behind the whole team for 90 (+) minutes and save your boos until the final whistle (and you might not have to).

hornet4eva says...
11:44pm Sat 13 Mar 10

so what were they doing going to a game like watford v peterborough? hardly the game of the day
security words-fire-when. so apt MM

cliff46 says...
11:45pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Another wasted journey and tedious match
The only bright note is to see that TRICKY RICK has once again confirmed that he is without a shadow of doubt a moronic idiot.

There was only one Scully says...
12:19am Sun 14 Mar 10

I've never heard such a bunch of tempermental wasters as the pessimists that scribe b**lo*ks on this website. Any novice coach has to learn and as in all areas of a new jobs you learn by making mistakes, wrong decisions etc. As I see it we dont have much choice we, are not a QPR who can chop and change bring in someone who can hopefully get us out of a mess. Get a grip you armchair and glory moaners this club does not deserve the boos that echoed around the ground. W**kers!

Tommy Mooney is a legend says...
2:00am Sun 14 Mar 10

There was only one Scully wrote:
I've never heard such a bunch of tempermental wasters as the pessimists that scribe b**lo*ks on this website. Any novice coach has to learn and as in all areas of a new jobs you learn by making mistakes, wrong decisions etc. As I see it we dont have much choice we, are not a QPR who can chop and change bring in someone who can hopefully get us out of a mess. Get a grip you armchair and glory moaners this club does not deserve the boos that echoed around the ground. W**kers!
Absolutely nothing to do with being a pessimist, it's about facing up to the reality of what lies in front of us - relegation. We can't win away for love nor money and now we can't win at home, or even score (or shoot). People boo because they know that with a management team who have half a clue of what they are doing would be doing 10 times better. This lot are miles out of their depth and if you can't see that and want to blindly clap your way through this s**t then everybody should be questioning your allegiance to the club as we are going in one direction only unless massive changes are made. People would lay off it somewhat if MM tried changing the team slightly, but either his arrogance or his ignorance prevents him from doing even that. Do you really think we'll bounce straight back up with this team minus the loan players? Oh, hang on we're not down yet, are we???? Tell me, where are the next 3 points coming from with this starting 11?

leavesdenorn says...
7:32am Sun 14 Mar 10

Watch this space - AC was also there last Tuesday. Why would he be at the last two Watford games.
Big question is would he take on that bunch of overpaid w*****s !!!!!!

watters84 says...
9:21am Sun 14 Mar 10

Firstly Curbs will not come here on the money Mackay is paid which is one quarter of the contract Rodgers was on and secondly it has to be a manager like Jim Gannon or a rising star working with a very low budget like Terry Skiverton or Justin Edinburgh,no big names for the money on offer.

midland hornet says...
9:34am Sun 14 Mar 10

The fact that we have only won 3 games out of the last 17 has relegation written all over it. Now that we have lost against the Posh, the teams mental state will be shredded. Up until yesterday i was optimistic that we could still survive. Heaven knows why MM, still will not freshen the team up. No matter how good a player is all players during their careers will lose form at some point and it is the managers job to sort this out. Marriapa has been woeful for the last 3 games, yet still starts. Hodson has had a good rest, he must start on tuesday. Along with Buckley , McGinn, Hoskins, and even Harley. Like i said 3 wins in 17, the current team are just not good enough. MM you are paid to make unpoplar decisions amongst the players so make them.

garston edl says...
9:37am Sun 14 Mar 10

I tend to agree with Rick about family day, it all a bit embarrassing! We're too family orientated as it his - hence the lack of atmosphere. These days are supposed to attract the next generation of fans but we always play rubbish on these days and probably put the kids off for life!

Moving on to the game, MM comments post match - heard it all before, blame the ref, hardworking, camped in the half - keep digging that whole Malky. And for there's only one scully - what are you on about man? Who's an armchair fan? You MM is a novice with lots to learn - thats why we wont him out, cos he's got nish experience and he's NOT learning. Judging from his post match comments he's too thick to ever learn.

Buckstops says...
9:48am Sun 14 Mar 10

Calm down people.

4th bottom. Focus on that.

grahamwfc says...
9:50am Sun 14 Mar 10

LOACH
HODSON
BENNETT
TAYLOR
HARLEY
BUCKLEY
JENKINS
MCGINN
JENKINS
CLEVERLEY
HOSKINS
SUBS
MESSI
RONALDO
KAKA
FOSTER
CANNAVARO
AMBROSSINI
ROONEY
trouble is we would be one nil down with 5 minutes left before we brought on Amrossini

watters84 says...
10:23am Sun 14 Mar 10

The clamour for the return of Lee Hodson is enlightening -has he suddenly discovered how to defend against any player who is either strong or quick or whisper it - BOTH?

hemels golden says...
10:35am Sun 14 Mar 10

watters84 - nobody is claiming that Hodsons the finished article or a world beater but what do you suggest just have Marriapa thinking he has a devine right to be in the team when he's turning out woeful performance after another, we need to shake things up so Malkys favourites get a kick up the back side that they so desperatly need

SimonW, Godalming says...
10:49am Sun 14 Mar 10

Tommy Mooney is a legend wrote:
There was only one Scully wrote: I've never heard such a bunch of tempermental wasters as the pessimists that scribe b**lo*ks on this website. Any novice coach has to learn and as in all areas of a new jobs you learn by making mistakes, wrong decisions etc. As I see it we dont have much choice we, are not a QPR who can chop and change bring in someone who can hopefully get us out of a mess. Get a grip you armchair and glory moaners this club does not deserve the boos that echoed around the ground. W**kers!
Absolutely nothing to do with being a pessimist, it's about facing up to the reality of what lies in front of us - relegation. We can't win away for love nor money and now we can't win at home, or even score (or shoot). People boo because they know that with a management team who have half a clue of what they are doing would be doing 10 times better. This lot are miles out of their depth and if you can't see that and want to blindly clap your way through this s**t then everybody should be questioning your allegiance to the club as we are going in one direction only unless massive changes are made. People would lay off it somewhat if MM tried changing the team slightly, but either his arrogance or his ignorance prevents him from doing even that. Do you really think we'll bounce straight back up with this team minus the loan players? Oh, hang on we're not down yet, are we???? Tell me, where are the next 3 points coming from with this starting 11?
Tommy Mooney that is a very good reply, word for word I would have to say I agree with every single one you have said, however your final question is somewhat impossible to answer, you should have asked a different one - like where is our next goal coming from??

enlightened one says...
11:15am Sun 14 Mar 10

Booing at half time FFS.Pathetic muppets on this site spouting the usual if in doubt kick the manager out tripe.Trying times i agree,but there are 12 games left,quite how the numpty above thinks he can predict the score for every game is fantastic,can I have the numbers for next saturdays lottery,fool.As for you p.Rick chanting for Malkys head it must have been a solo as I never heard it where I was.As for yesterdays performance yep some were not very good but the poor buggers are so desperate to win a game that nothing seems to quite happen.As long as we keep fighting we will be fine.(E.O prepares to be shot down in flames by a gaggle of loony windowlickers).COYHS !!!!!!!!!

rousman 2 says...
11:59am Sun 14 Mar 10

SimonW, Godalming wrote:
sorry, forgot one thing - WHERE THE HELL WAS BUCKLEY!!!!
Still not 100% fit, has not played a first team game since November, he maybe a good player but we neeed people who can play now you buy for the present in the January not for next season.

Hornet Cornet says...
11:59am Sun 14 Mar 10

As long as we keep fighting then we'll be ok? Are you being serious? We might be ok if we start playing football but that's about it.

HC

enlightened one says...
2:32pm Sun 14 Mar 10

Yep.

watfordal says...
2:39pm Sun 14 Mar 10

I blame the pitch. Go on Malky, we haven't heard that one yet. I slept through most of it. More predictable than Boofers tactics. On the way out some bloke said there was no plan B. I wondered what Plan A was. They were all hopeless. Loach is in decisive and comes for balls he shouldn't and not for those he should. AM's lost confidence, LD remians one of the few reasons to go, for the laugh. The centre backs....I'd prefer Malky and Dyche on the pitch and JDM and Lurch on the sidelines..come to think of it!!!!!!

wyldething1990 says...
4:50pm Sun 14 Mar 10

This team is going no where under MM and Sean Dyche. If we keep them on board then I fear we could go down and as they havent got the hint that we have lost our previous three games prior to the Peterbourough game and havent changed the squad, then League one here we come. I thought we played absolutely rubbish today for a Championship side and tbh it looked like Watford were bottom of the league and not Peterborough. If the worse was to happen and we did get relegated, I think it could to be an a dvantage to the club to start over again like Leicester city and Nottingham Forest. Dreading Tuesday!

Prof Plum says...
5:06pm Sun 14 Mar 10

Tricky Rick wrote:
I have said all along that the appoinment of MM as manager was a monumental mistake and now this is becoming increasingly clear.

His dealings in the January transfer window - Taylor aside - have proven to be very costly. We needed to sign impact players instead of yet more inexperienced lads who warm the bench each week. As it is we are now left with a team with very little pace which has gone very stale and is now bereft of any confidence.

We must look to the emergency window for more striking options because this is where the major problems lie. H is not the answer, and Graham is so obviously out if his depth.

Tough decisions need to be made and fast but with GT at the helm this is unlikely. I unashamedly sang for Mackay to be sacked today and not one person objected. Anyone with a brain can see he has run out of ideas and has lost the dressing room.

Graham Taylor, you have done so much for this club, but you were part of the panel that appointed Mackay. If you have not got the guts to sack the manager, then please step down as chairman, otherwise you will be just as responsible for our impending relegation as Mackay.

I urge all fans who care about this club to vent their anger at the manager on Tuesday. WFC supporters have always been too loyal and no one man is bigger than the club. Mackay is not management material and unless you want to see a return to the lower divisions he MUST BE REMOVED! There is still time for a new management team to instill belief and discipline and turn this mess around.

Glen Roeder was shown the door after an equally dreadful run and he could claim to have been blighted by injuries. It is time for Mackay to go.

MACKAY OUT MACKAY OUT MACKAY OUT MACKAY OUT!!!!

BTW - family day....when is the club going to grow some balls. I do not want to see push chairs and 4 year old girls at a football match. It is not an appropriate enviroment for young children....neither is it an appropriate environment for middle class softies and bleeding hear liberals who object to bad language....if you don't like it **** off!
The atmosphere at Chateau Grim is more undermined by the fact that a high proportion of the crowd is made up of the kind of saddos with nothing better to do on a saturday evening than post anonymous bile on this website. We will not go down and Mackay will prove a very good manager - given time.

4boys says...
5:44pm Sun 14 Mar 10

Eustace is the worst centre midfield player I can ever remember pulling on a Watford shirt (over 30yrs), he can never seem to remember which team he is on.
What has happenend to Marriapa and Demerit, they are playing terrible

ab11uk says...
7:04pm Sun 14 Mar 10

He has to go. Simple as that. he said if we played the same against swansea we would be ok???

we lost against swansea?? the team are not good enough he should have the balls to say it. the team dont look bothered because he cant tell them they are rubbish. why did noone boo this lot off the pitch? the players clapping the fans after that are a disgrace. and as for the fans clapping back???

i presume they would clap someone if they stabbed them in the chest.

he has to go and if i read one word of him saying we were unlucky or the ref was poor(ref had the best game i have seen all season) he dont deserve to be here.

garston edl says...
7:30pm Sun 14 Mar 10

Prof plum - why do you think MM will make a "very good manager, given time"? What do you base this very bold prediction on?

luther blissett says...
7:43pm Sun 14 Mar 10

I am as upset at recent performances as the rest of you but we need to face facts, we can't afford to get rid of MM, so I am going to get behind him unlike most of you.

This doesn't make me a happy clapper, just a realist who wants the best for my club.

Obviously team changes need to be made and all I can do is hope they happen on Tuesday.

If you see Ipswich played a 16 year old yesterday and guess what, he scored the winner!!!

Maybe time for Massey? Players that young play with no fear (and he has to be better than Henderson).

Only 2 Ross Jenkins says...
9:07pm Sun 14 Mar 10

luther blissett wrote:
I am as upset at recent performances as the rest of you but we need to face facts, we can't afford to get rid of MM, so I am going to get behind him unlike most of you. This doesn't make me a happy clapper, just a realist who wants the best for my club. Obviously team changes need to be made and all I can do is hope they happen on Tuesday. If you see Ipswich played a 16 year old yesterday and guess what, he scored the winner!!! Maybe time for Massey? Players that young play with no fear (and he has to be better than Henderson).
I agree with you. Its so bloody frustrating watching our team at the moment. I do not think, however, that the players do not care, as some people have suggested.
I didn't boo the team off on saturday, but nor did I really applaud them.
I did see plenty of effort, sadly not so much apparently in the first half, however it took us to be behind before we woke up. But then, the ability to unlock their dogged defence was lacking. I can't be bothered to look at the stats, but I am fairly sure there are 4 main contributing factors in our drop in form:
1. Demerit not playing earlier in the season - when he was injured, we were doing fine. Time to try Mariappa/Bennett with Taylor in the centre I think and make someone else the captain.
2. Jenkins - when he was playing earlier in the season, we were doing well. Then he got injured and hasn't featured much since. Time for him to start with Jenkins and maybe drop Eustace, who has gone off the boil.
3. Hodson being dropped (since Taylor came in). Coincidence? I think we could benefit from his attacking play.
4. The Russo effect.
-
I think getting the first goal is going to be crucial in the remaining fixtures as confidence is currently shot to pieces.
-
I'll be there on tuesday and giving as much encouragement to the team as I can. We can be the 12th man when they need us the most. I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet, and nor should anyone else.
There are a lot of people on here who don't appear to have the stomach for the fight.

Hornet Cornet says...
9:38pm Sun 14 Mar 10

12th man? how man 12th men do the watford players need exactly?

Kenfurphy says...
9:45pm Sun 14 Mar 10

The reaction to this defeat is very understandable- a key game we needed to win and a very poor performance-. We lost too many individual battles all over the pitch.
Its very difficult to fathom how a team that were playing so well only a couple of months ago have lost form at exactly the wrong time. MM has clearly made some mistakes and needs to make some changes to team selection. Sorry, but I can’t see how booing the team helps their performance. I have never heard of a team or a player’s performance improve as a result of booing. Wait until the end of the game if you want to show your displeasure.
I think LA will be influential if we are going to make a managerial change. I suspect GT will back MM; he knows what a difficult job MM has and was part of the selection panel. He should support him by getting an experienced person to add to MM’s backroom staff-even if it’s only a temporary basis. However, if LA thinks his investment, and the future share issue, will virtually evaporate with the threat of relegation he may well put pressure on GT and the Board to make a change. Not sure who we could get or afford who could turn things around quickly.

ReadersWives says...
11:50pm Sun 14 Mar 10

Watford FC has gone through more than it's fair share of traumas and looked over the cliff a few times.
It's looked more like an X File, complete with phantom goals, than a club at times.

Nevertheless, for the most part, we've always supported it - it's injuries became ours. What other club can boast such a passionate, intimate following? None, given our community awards if thats the measure.

So we have soul.

And while it's compelling to vent at MM, bear in mind he can only row with the oars he's got and in the ying yang universe of sport (which is why we love it) a bad run was inevitable.

Either we started poorly and improved or, worse, we got vice versa. It tastes bitter this way round as delusions have been crushed instead of expectations managed. Get over it.

Survival was always the priority and the play-offs a pipe dream. It would have been too early in reality anyway. We can agree on this at least.

So please calm down - we have much to look forward too. A promising, pioneering academy pregnant with talent, a new board thats in tune with each other and a manager who I'm sure is about to prove his metal as we have always done.

DO NOT GIVE UP NOW.

stuperman says...
7:57am Mon 15 Mar 10

This Watford side is too good to be in the position that it finds itself. HH, Cleverley, Lansbury, Cowie, Loach etc. These guys are good enough to more than hold their own in the Championship. Blame has to lie somewhere I'm afraid and that can only be at the managerial level.
I noticed Alan Curbishley in the directors box on Saturday. Having an afternoon out maybe? Or perhaps he couldn't get a ticket at Stamford Bridge:-)

ab11uk says...
8:22am Mon 15 Mar 10

readerwives what wofty world do you live in???

do you float around kissing wasps and ballet dancing down the high st on a friday night thinking everything is great??

if the fans do not boo this team then it shows we accept this rubbish. I dont accept it and anyone who does must be on the happy pills wives is on. one guy on here actually said he applauded the team? I presume he would clap at a dead fox at the side of the road or at his paint drying poorly on the wall. This team are better than their position and the management clearly think that too. Malky's programme nots were nothing short of a disgrace..
he should have come out about 3 games ago and said these performancess are rubbish. he hasnt. excuse after excuse have these players so deluded that they clap the fans after losing to a team who have NEVER won away from home. some fans are so deluded they clapped back???

Malky Out. anyone else in.

ab11uk says...
8:28am Mon 15 Mar 10

I have just read Deludeds comments after the game. He said the team gave their all????????

Im sorry but they tryed for about 15 mins this guy is a joke. excuses excuses. the two fouls were not penalties they were miles outside the box. and yes we did have one shot cleared off the line. however the team who have never won away from home in the championship hit the post twice the bar once and had our goalie diving all over the place.

he has to go. how can you protect the players after that rubbish.

Hornet Cornet says...
9:13am Mon 15 Mar 10

Ab11, you're spot on. Anyone know where Readers Wives lives? Might just buy a Readers Digest and shove it where the sun.....

worthing_hornet says...
9:21am Mon 15 Mar 10

garston_edl, you are waiting for a reply, because you have said nothing that needs a reply to it yet. Sack MM yes fine, ok he is having a bad season and is finding first team management hard - so what's new. He started well but things have gone wrong, has he lost the dressing room? How can nearly every manage here do that, do we just have really bad players with no desire to play for the team and the town? But what is your bright idea after that!!. Who do we get in to replace him? where do we find new loan players that might keep us up?? What changes do we make with the squad we have to save things?? If you want a converstation offer something other than simply get MM out and we'll debate it. If you simply want to gloat that we are rubbish, that's fine but don't expect a conversation about it.

ab11uk says...
9:32am Mon 15 Mar 10

OK worthing we should just sit here and let him take us down and do nothing about it. the team should be booed if not performing. the manager should be told he i not doing a good job to force the board to do something. literally anyone else would be better than this. there are plenty of unemployed managers out there. so the old excuse of there is noone else is rubbish.

Only 2 Ross Jenkins says...
10:04am Mon 15 Mar 10

Hornet Cornet wrote:
12th man? how man 12th men do the watford players need exactly?
As many as possible. And not just when things are going well.

ab11uk says...
10:37am Mon 15 Mar 10

Yeah thats it the saviour for all our troubles. if we constantly clap our team they are bound to win. are you malky in disguise?

oldgent says...
12:50pm Mon 15 Mar 10

They need our support in the next few months, we must remember the squad we have, even if he had made changes to the starting 11, he still would have the same players, he dropped, on the bench! Depth of the squad is not good enough, we had no one on the bench who could change a game.
HH and Graham do not have lot of pace, we play to one mans strenghts, HH!! most of the 90 mins we miss out the midfield and play long, looking to pick up the 2nd ball in the oppo's final 3rd, teams are wise to this now and crowd the midfield area, thus making it difficult to get Hl and TC into the game..Its very difficult also when we have no ball playing full backs..hodson needs to be added, but left back is a big issue, doyley has no left foot and is always looking to cut back in to the centre, which then doesnt get TC invovled as much as he should, when doyley does this it makes the game very narrow, and with cowie and TC we should stretch the pitch and play and make the oppo work harder at full stretch.
Does MM have the tactical knowledge to change a game, from recent games no he doesnt!! Has he lost the dressing room only time will tell..

Only 2 Ross Jenkins says...
12:53pm Mon 15 Mar 10

ab11uk wrote:
Yeah thats it the saviour for all our troubles. if we constantly clap our team they are bound to win. are you malky in disguise?
Who said anything about constantly clapping?
-
The key point that so many people are missing is that booing players who are down on their luck and out of form is absolutely disgusting and drives a wedge bewteen the team and the fans.
By all means boo when we have spent loads of money and the team isn't performing (or trying), but for get it into your head that
we have spent relatively little on this team.
The way to deal with it is to offer encouragement to ensure the players do give 100%. That's not constantly clapping, it's something completely different. It's about driving the players on to believe they can do better.
Take Mariappa for example. Is he looking forward to the game tomorrow night? I doubt it, considering all he's going to get is a sh!t load of abuse when he has to go anywhere near the Rous.
How would you like it if you were at work and constantly criticised? I think you'd probably want to tell everyone to F*** off.
You have to remember that the players are human, just like the rest of us.

ab11uk says...
1:08pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Why can we not boo rubbish? I would hope mariappa is gonna react ot the booing. if he reacts poorly to it then he should not be a professional footballer. And if i performed as badly as this team has i would not have a job. At the end of the day we have spent about average amount of money on this team compared to everyone else in the league. so no point saying he has had no money because noone has had money to spend. the crowd did not boo this lot in the first half did you see how the encouragement worked? I saw a slight improvement after they were booed but still not enough. How you can sit there and believe if you shout "come on watford" then this team will turn in to superstars is incredible. Booing shows this team are not performing. and as the manager is to gutless to say they are not the crowd have to.

JonBoy says...
1:16pm Mon 15 Mar 10

We invented the family club remember? It's something we should be proud of, it's certainly something that Grham Taylor worked hard for. We have had major successes as a family club so don't spout rubbish about it hindering us.

Being a family club, being part of the community is what binds us together and regardless of what league we are in it is something we should value.

worthing_hornet says...
1:22pm Mon 15 Mar 10

ab11uk - i didn't say that. Personally I don't think booing for booing sake is productive, Saturday's performance was very poor, so other than throwing their programmes on the pitch or stnding outside the ground post match shouting the board must gothe manager must go. All the fans can do is to boo, I accept that. What I am saying is what reply was expected to that post, someone to say, no MM is the best thing we must keep him? No not at all, if he fails to perform then his position should rightly be re-considered. What I do not know, and there is nothing useful being posted here currently, to offer an informed opinion on this, is who do we replace MM with and how? we have no cash, so say we sack MM, what then there is no magic wand to wave and come up with a new manager guaranteed to keep us up (unless we are going to suggest BR could do the job once again as he did last season?) AB - he isn't going to come back after the way we got rid of him, Coppell ? why would he what can we offer him? who else is there then? if you have any thoughts please share them because I don't know how the heck we get out of the mess we are in at the moment.

herts hornet says...
1:27pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Anyone stopped to consider that the booing on saturday was actually aimed at the woeful management team who seemed short of ideas ,the ability to keep picking a LOSING side ,not giving other players like ,Hodson,mcginn,Hoski
ns ,a chance ,e.t.c e.t.c ,when was last time we scored a goal and actually won a game ,maybe fans have a right to challenge things ,i for have no problem with supporting players giving there all and supporting a management team prepared to change things when plan A fails , Even Rodgers learn't and was prepared to change his philosphy ,MM seems either incapable or too stubborn to admit he is wrong ,well MM the performances and results speak for themselves ,you have no no;2 who wil tell you as it is and does nothing but have a go at the fourth official ,you need an experienced no2 to support you and to learn of and tell you as it is ,or perhaps you think you know it all ,up to you if you do not change things i honestly think you will regret it and things will be changed for you ,walking out of ground Saturday it was very obvious if you have not lost the dressing room you have certainly lost the fans ! .

onlyonerodthomas says...
1:30pm Mon 15 Mar 10

not feeling confident about tomorrow at all.dont think there will be a good turnout either.i cant see us scoring,not with dg up front and eustace's slow hoofed passes going astray.keane will be rubbing his hands tomorrow as they will def look to take all 3 points.

BoldenGoys says...
1:44pm Mon 15 Mar 10

It's amazing how many tactical masterminds there are on this page. It's incredible that we have all these highly qualified football experts wasting their talents leaving comments on a news story and yet we supposedly have an utterly clueless chancer in charge of our football club. I'm sure the ones on here shouting 'change the team' are the same ones who were screaming at Malky to buy a centre back in January as if you were the only people who had thought of it. Does it occur to you that Malky, as a professional manager, may just be aware that he can change the team? Are you prepared to consider that he may know the squad better than you? Given how well he and the squad coped with the problems we've had this season, and how high he took us despite losing our talent in the summer, I for one am prepared to give Malky the benefit of the doubt. It's far easier to turn on him and forget what he's already done for us than it is to get behind him and trust him. So many of you would have expected to be in this position or worse at the start of the season, so shut up and be grateful for what we've got. You are totally and utterly powerless to change anything, so stop moaning and support your team.

the sniper says...
1:50pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Agree with most comments,but on Tuesday let's get behind the team right to the final whistle then judge the performance.Let's not forget, players move on(and WFC becomes a distant memory for some),it's us supporters that are left to pick up the pieces so let's make sure we cheer the Golden Boys to victory on Tuesday and til the end of the season

stuperman says...
2:01pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Half of me feels that there won't be a change of Manager while GT is Chairman. He is after all a fully paid up member of the Managers' Union and it would go against everything that he preaches. But the other part of me is curious as to why Alan Curbishley was in the Directors box on Saturday and Martin Allen at the game before. These guys arent Watford fans and I'm sure they could find better games to watch if they were just in search of a match. Dont know whether to bung all my dough on a three legged nag in the Cheltenham Gold Cup or to have a few bob on Curbs to be Manager of Watford before the season's out. If he's there again tomorrow night I'm off to the bookies!

ab11uk says...
2:22pm Mon 15 Mar 10

You dont have to be a footballing genius to see that saturday was the worst performance in about 10 years. and you didnt have to be a footballing genius to see we needed a centre back. However malky dont seem to recognise this? Seems like even the malky lovers are turning on him.

imuz says...
2:29pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Malky Mackays Yellow Army!!

imuz says...
2:30pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Liam Henderson???? Hahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahaha

Tesco Dave says...
2:36pm Mon 15 Mar 10

After having 2 days to reflect on yet another abject performance I think it is easier to make valued judgements. I would love the starting 11 to be changed especially Mariappa, De Merit and Helguson. But ask yourselves if any of the bench warmers will really make a difference and the answer in thecold light of day, is no! To me, we performed above our station in sum of the home games we have won, those great nights against Sheffield Wednesday adn QPR especially. Unfortunatly that kind of quick on the deck passing and incisive attacking seems to have been consigned to history and we are back to the traditional Watford way of aimless hoofball. All I ask is for the management to bring back our passing game, the fans prefer it and react to it. The hoofball game only brings moans and boos from the crowd. Please do not say we cannot play the passing game on or pitch because on bteer pitches at away games we are even worse. Lets hope that the more skillful pplayers, Cleverly, Lansbury and Cowie (on his day) find their form quickly and are allowed to play the way I believe the fans want us too.

enlightened one says...
2:37pm Mon 15 Mar 10

ab11uk wrote:
You dont have to be a footballing genius to see that saturday was the worst performance in about 10 years. and you didnt have to be a footballing genius to see we needed a centre back. However malky dont seem to recognise this? Seems like even the malky lovers are turning on him.
Worst performance in about 10 years,you have got to be kidding.The level of comments on here is now plumbing depths to which even I couldn't imagine.Un-bloody-be
lievable,really it is.


sw: nice-cell . Time they found one for you ab,preferably of the padded kind.

ab11uk says...
2:48pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Have we ever lost to a team towards to the end of the season who have never won away? I dont think so enlightened one. I can only presume you werent there and if you werent have a heart and feel sorry for the ones who were

enlightened one says...
3:11pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Course I was there,the only ones I feel sorry for where the cretins who booed at half and full time,good one,thats really going to help.

ab11uk says...
3:24pm Mon 15 Mar 10

So your saying we should have cheered them off?? or done nothing and in essence not participated in the atmosphere at all and stood there like a zombie but making less noise?

you had a lot of people to feel sorry for maybe you should have set up a charity? aid the booers?

Prof Plum says...
3:29pm Mon 15 Mar 10

ab11uk wrote:
So your saying we should have cheered them off?? or done nothing and in essence not participated in the atmosphere at all and stood there like a zombie but making less noise?

you had a lot of people to feel sorry for maybe you should have set up a charity? aid the booers?
Get a life, mate

ab11uk says...
3:35pm Mon 15 Mar 10

PLUM,

i have got a life its WATFORD FC.

and if you dont think that is a life then get the hell out of my club.

what a disgrace

Prof Plum says...
3:43pm Mon 15 Mar 10

ab11uk wrote:
PLUM,

i have got a life its WATFORD FC.

and if you dont think that is a life then get the hell out of my club.

what a disgrace
That's quite possibly the saddest thing I've ever read on this increasingly ridiculous message board. You have my deepest sympathies and I hope you manage to turn things around for yourself soon.

Only 2 Ross Jenkins says...
3:44pm Mon 15 Mar 10

ab11uk wrote:
So your saying we should have cheered them off?? or done nothing and in essence not participated in the atmosphere at all and stood there like a zombie but making less noise? you had a lot of people to feel sorry for maybe you should have set up a charity? aid the booers?
I doubt he is suggesting we cheer them off. That would be stupid and I am sure he ain't stupid.
Booing doesn't help in the current situation, and that's the key phrase, "in the current situation."
So deal with the facts (you can re-read the last few months of reports from this site and many others to remind yourself of our position) and support your bloody team. I'm not sure you've got what it takes, however.

ab11uk says...
3:46pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Plum

if you dont support the club why are you bothering to come on this forum? makes no sense.

and if we dont clap and if we dont boo. what do we do??????

imuz says...
4:25pm Mon 15 Mar 10

It was worthy of boos - i cant believe people pay to watch that dross...and if they do then they're entitled to feel they didnt get their moneys worth..

michael furlong says...
5:16pm Mon 15 Mar 10

I can't believe how bad things have got in the last couple of weeks. This is a team that when we played sheff weds had my liverpool and arsenal mates raving about W.F.C. We have it in us to play alot of teams of the park but are just not showing up at the moment. I was extremely dissapointed not to see any changes on Sat other than cleverley back in, I think we need to shake things up big time and I cannot understand why he will not start 1 match with hoskins and see how he does.I believe that MM has got what it takes to see us right, he did have us playing above everyones expectations in the 1st part of the season,but he needs to make changes fast.I pray that we romp home against ipswich tomorrow and make that the start of something good.

SuperNova says...
5:24pm Mon 15 Mar 10

This thread says a lot more about the quality of our 'support' than the quality of the football being played.

I took my child to the game and ended up covering his ears.

Never ever again.

Tricky Rick says...
7:34pm Mon 15 Mar 10

SuperNova wrote:
This thread says a lot more about the quality of our 'support' than the quality of the football being played.

I took my child to the game and ended up covering his ears.

Never ever again.
Prat. A football match is not an appropriate environment for a young child. I bet you're one of these annoying tossers who bring small babies into pubs and resturaunts. A typical product of middle England who feels a god given right to take his offspring anywhere.

garston edl says...
8:01pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Bolden Goys telling us we, as fans, are "totally and powerless to change anything", Prof plum telling people to "get a life" and enlightened one talking about "padded cells" for anyone that dare criticise MM. These are 3 of the very small number of fans that support MM. With those sort of comments though do we really care what they think?!

ReadersWives says...
8:02pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Tricky Rick wrote:
SuperNova wrote:
This thread says a lot more about the quality of our 'support' than the quality of the football being played.

I took my child to the game and ended up covering his ears.

Never ever again.
Prat. A football match is not an appropriate environment for a young child. I bet you're one of these annoying tossers who bring small babies into pubs and resturaunts. A typical product of middle England who feels a god given right to take his offspring anywhere.
Bet your a hard man Rick. Even your posts are ripped.

Belong to a gym, but only works on his upper torso. Then goes to the pub - every pub - and works on his gut that drags on the urine stained carpet from last night sesh.

'Wot u lookin at?' Real Geezaaaah our Dick. 55 pints, fartin n that. Not a prat and boy can he booooooo.

Parades his asbo outside Asda's, Thinks St Albans is a poof.

A typical product of welfare England.

The link that even Darwin wanted to miss.

Geeeezaaaaahhhhh!!*!
?!$

luther blissett says...
9:19pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Tricky Rick wrote:
SuperNova wrote:
This thread says a lot more about the quality of our 'support' than the quality of the football being played.

I took my child to the game and ended up covering his ears.

Never ever again.
Prat. A football match is not an appropriate environment for a young child. I bet you're one of these annoying tossers who bring small babies into pubs and resturaunts. A typical product of middle England who feels a god given right to take his offspring anywhere.
Dick, can I ask at what age you started supporting Watford and when did you go to your first game?

Surely kids have to go a game at some point? Otherwise they would only see Man Utd or Chelsea on the telly and never support Watford.

Over the last few weeks everyone on here has despised you and just because a couple of people have agreed with your view for change, please don't think you have persuaded them, they are just frustrated with the team.

About time you stopped dragging your knuckles!!!

Only 2 Ross Jenkins says...
9:38pm Mon 15 Mar 10

ab11uk wrote:
Plum if you dont support the club why are you bothering to come on this forum? makes no sense. and if we dont clap and if we dont boo. what do we do??????
We've got to be mentally tough and get behind the team, not slag everone off the when things get tough. Therefore I think it's fair to question people's ability to "support" the team. I'm not sure some people are quite getting it. The players respond to stimulus in the same way we all do. GT himself said it last week, and I'm fairly sure he knows a thing or two about how to motivate people.

Hornet Cornet says...
10:22pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Is that the same way that GT has obviously motivated MM? Muppet.

Chris the Vic says...
10:39pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Nice to see the thread getting vitriolic.

Interesting comment about route 1 and HH.

Truth is our pitch isnt very good but the away team can still play a modicum of football on it, unlike us, but Tuesday is another day so again we must get behind Malky and the team and hope for success, after all what else can we do? and 3 successive home defeats will be the death knell.

Goldenboy1960 says...
12:34am Tue 16 Mar 10

We all have our opinions and have a right to express them, but I fail to see that joining a general new trend of booing whenever you lose a game at home is doing any good. What has happened to our football society. Sometimes you will lose and even Man U have had their share this season. They boo too. What do people want?
The fact is that the team are generally playing without confidence and when that happens it affects them individually and they get anxious wanting to do well and then they start snatching at things and making wrong decisions. Then their confidence gets even lower. Have any of you played in front of 15000 people plus and been got at in the manner that aidy mariappa was on Saturday. How would you feel? Do you know the pressure that brings? That boy is Watford through and through and nobody plays badly on purpose. Everyone can change this round if they stopped and thought. I honestly thought the Watford public were better than that but I'm starting to believe otherwise.

ab11uk says...
8:42am Tue 16 Mar 10

Jesus, Goldenboy do you think the plays all go boo hooing after being booed. go crying to malky and start sucking on his nipples?????

we boo because the performance was awful, the team was awful and we lost to a team who had never won away! get a grip these players arnt babies and need to be told they are rubbish because the manager last saw his spine in the womb!

oldgent says...
8:42am Tue 16 Mar 10

Team for tonight needs a few changes; hodson and TC could work very well together down the right flank.Hoskins adds something different than Graham, he runs the channels better, Would I change Eustace for Jenkins, prob not,Although he doesnt offer a lot in terms of technical play he breaks up the play up and is abit more of a physical presence than Jenkins.

Loach
Hodson Demerit Taylor Dolyley

Eustace
Cleverley Landsbury Mcginn

Hoskins HH

imuz says...
9:43am Tue 16 Mar 10

Well i personally am looking forward to league 1, the championship is boring anyway...just like our dreary fans..

Elton Bog says...
12:48pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Another incisive comment from imuz.... does it not get annoying when no one reacts?........D'oh!
!!

Only 2 Ross Jenkins says...
1:24pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Hornet Cornet wrote:
Is that the same way that GT has obviously motivated MM? Muppet.
If it makes me a muppet to believe that GT knows what he's talking about, then you must be having a little fun at my expense. If so, that's a good one.
-
You need to be tough mentally to support our current team. It looks like many people do not have what it takes, and would rather go off crying when we lose.
You need to rise above it a little.

ab11uk says...
3:13pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Ross Jenkins im not sure where you are going with your comments?? are you saying that supporting watford should be like some kind of james bond interrogation process and that we must not give in dont matter how bad they get? or are you saying at the present moment in time only the most numb to the world people can support us? you keep quoting mental toughness as if its good to keep a stiff upper lip even if the club is dying around you.

may i suggest you are suffering from post east stand syndrome.

Dr.Oftaw says...
3:16pm Tue 16 Mar 10

2-1 to watford

Prof Plum says...
3:21pm Tue 16 Mar 10

I trust that after an emphatic home win tonight all those that have been wetting themselves during our recent run of poor form will have the good grace to keep quiet

imuz says...
3:40pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Elton Bog...you just did. Doh.

mitch kings langley says...
4:08pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Not taking the kids to the game tonight, Going to take them Badger bateing instead, if thats o.k with Rick?
Is Kings Langley middle of England enough?..If not i could move them to a nearer Work House!

Ps .. BOOO

Chris the Vic says...
5:24pm Tue 16 Mar 10

i hope you are right Prof


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