Post by deadbat on Dec 26, 2019 19:46:13 GMT
No podcast as no one could be bothered to meet up! Match report below…..
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United and Watford shared the spoils on Boxing Day at a wet Bramall Lane. The side who started the day on the bottom of the Premier League, came and defended well and got a breakaway goal through Gerard Deulofeu but United levelled thanks to Ollie Norwood’s penalty after George Baldock had been tripped by Will Hughes. After this United were the more likely to net the winner but a wonder save from Ben Foster denied John Fleck and the Blades had to settle for a point.
United brought John Fleck back in after suspension with Luke Freeman dropping back to the bench. Abdoulaye Doucoure was suspended for the Hornets so Nathaniel Chalobah came in. Skipper Troy Deeney was not back starting after a long run out through injury. The game was delayed for ten minutes due to operational issues as the sold-out home fans entered Bramall Lane in dire weather conditions.
The game began with little action and both teams feeling each other out but eventually United started to get a foothold and with the overlapping centre back O’Connell advancing down the left almost profited. His cross was turned instinctively goalward by McBurnie but Foster made a great reaction save and McGoldrick could not turn the rebound home. Soon after the Scottish striker had a headed chance but Foster made this save more comfortable after the effort came in from the penalty spot area.
Basham then was smartly able to make a tackle and clearance at the other end as Watford tried to break using the quick wide players Sarr and Deulofeu. United did have the ball in the net as Fleck turned home a Basham cross but with the flag up, the checks confirmed that it was indeed offside despite many in the crowd hoping that finally a decision might go for United for once but to no avail!
Against the run of play the visitors took the lead. The set up was simple in its execution with a long ball nodded on by Chalobah and DEULOFEU got in between Stevens and O’Connell and steadied himself before drilling in at the near post.
United tried to respond but Watford were sitting even deeper now and United were struggling to break through with the front two often getting crowded out and the Norwood diagonal and Baldock driving run, the main sources of a comeback. So it proved when United got level on 36 minutes.
Baldock got to the ball just inside the box and Hughes upended him. There were few appeals from the Watford team who seemed angrier with their own player for his stupidity. The VAR check so the spot kick confirmed. NORWOOD took it and drilled it low into the left-hand side of the net giving Foster no chance.
The final stages saw an Egan header saved comfortably and a few other moments where the home team probed but could not find an opening.
Sarr had struggled just before the break going down with an injury and had to come off to be replaced by Pereyra.
United did look to up the pace and an attack down the left saw Stevens ball fall to Lundstram whose fierce volley flew over. Then O’Connell’s low cross just evaded the front two and was cleared. United were now definitely forcing the pace. Fleck hit a low shot at the keeper and then McGoldrick was offside as he shot against the post a long time after the attack had been thwarted.
Mousset came on for the ineffective McBurnie just after the hour mark and soon the French striker was in on the action and he sprinted away from two men and put over an inviting cross that seemed perfect for Fleck but his effort from point blank range was superbly saved from Foster. It was a wonder save and stopped another goal for the United midfielder in a prolific season for him by his normal standards.
Stevens had a low shot saved by Foster and United won a series of corners but had to be alive on the break to any threat from some dangerous attackers. Watford were mostly now sitting in but United were struggling to create much of anything clear cut after the Fleck chance and a number of corners were cleared or fouls took place to stem any momentum.
Gray took the place of Deeney as Watford looked for fresh runners to help keep the ball up the field despite the home side looking more likely. The game entered the final 5 minutes and a rare Watford break saw O’Connell’s soft foul give away a free kick chance for Deulofeu whose floated effort went narrowly wide of the post with Henderson rooted to the spot.
Chalobah was booked for taking an age to go off as Watford threw another defender on in Dawson as their intentions were quite clear in terms of getting a point. United kept going and Egan had a header blocked before Mousset was blocked out of things on the angle. It was not quite happening and despite an additional 5 minutes of stoppage time, Watford actually had a free kick on the angle that came to nothing before time ran out on United as they sought one last final surge with the full-time whistle coming as United advanced. The heads on the hands of the home players showed how disappointed they would be with the result and performance but also shows how far we have come in such a short time at the top table of English football.
United – Odd one to describe as were not awful but were not brilliant. It was quite an average performance really that saw quite a few individuals not quite at it and the team as a whole not having the tempo, consistency of passing or attacking impetus to win the game. We had more of the ball, more chances and more corners. If anyone deserved to win, it was us but not sure we quite did enough really. We started the game sloppily and they then scored on the break not long after McBurnie had two efforts and we had a VAR goal ruled out (well it did go to a check!). It was such a basic goal to let in and this made it really hard as they would defend even more then. We did get level though quite quickly and felt we would really up it second half. Not sure it really happened and even though we did step it up, it was still too slow with too many touches and the final ball/moments not good enough. The front two were ineffective throughout and the service behind them not really good enough. We huffed and puffed and Norwood and Baldock kept probing but too many others did not take responsibility as Wilder said.
I also thought we misjudged the conditions at times. The ball was sticking a bit and we kept trying to pass it and this meant it slowed down even more. When Mousset came on we should have gone more direct and played it in and behind the top. He showed on one move he could cause them problems but then oddly we started going wide more then? We took way too many touches to do basic things and they just got men round the ball and we did not put hardly any crosses in of quality. Still for all that we still had much more of the ball and pushed them back more than they did to us but they will take the draw of course and feel Foster made one great save either half and that was it really. They did not make Henderson make a save the other way though and on another day those chances go in.
Foster made one stunning save but can’t remember any other really clear chances and they came closest to winning it with the free kick just past the post at the end. It was a frustrating afternoon but you kind of just take the point and move on. A few weeks ago, Watford would have not got anything but now are well organised and resolute and did enough to get a draw. For United, they have to do better in such games and ensure we play the game at a higher tempo and can go through the middle more as it became very predictable with the angled crossfield balls and we struggled to get overloads like we have done. I was surprised we did not make many more than one change. Still it’s another draw and we move on. If we had drawn at Brighton and won today everyone would have said what a great return from the two Xmas games. We now have two really tough games now away from home where we get anything and we will be delighted and maybe now with the pressure off and teams coming at us more, that may suit us better than the defensive set up of teams like Newcastle and Watford where they did not attack much and we had to try and break them down. I do think we are a better away team than at home and the record proves that but we will have to come up with a phenomenal performance to get anything at the Etihad.
Ratings:
Henderson 6/10 – Had little to do but I have to say I think he did not cover himself in glory on the goal. He did not come out to narrow the angle which was fair enough but then left his whole near post to aim at making it easy for the striker. He needs to be a few yards further across and make him go across him. Outside of this he had little do really in terms of saves but his kicking was poor as he constantly booted it to no one as all our players went across the other side of the pitch.
Baldock 7/10 – More dangerous than Stevens going forward and had a few galloping runs and then of course invited the challenge to win the penalty. He was sound defensively and always an outlet down the right second half but maybe at times took too long to do things/get the ball in the box. He did not have the overlap or extra man as he has in other recent home games.
Stevens 6.5/10 – Not sure it was his best day today and his touch/control and overall play was off where it has been. I felt this was the case at Brighton and he has had a few down games for him. Not awful but just not quite at his best. Attacking wise he over crossed or over hit it and not sure many attacks came from his side or his play.
Basham 7/10 – Our best defender and showed his reading of the game a few times including a lovely piece of improvisation and skill in the first half when he got himself out of a tight spot. Came across and covered a few times and was just solid really at the defensive side. He tried to get forward but they got lots of bodies across and our slow build up made it hard for him to find space.
O’Connell 6.5/10 – Ok from a defensive point of view for most of the game but he seemed slow to react to Deulofeu when he got clear and maybe should have got across quicker. Outside of this he defended ok and tried to get forward when he could and was quite well advanced first half and led to us gaining possession/winning corners/throws high up the field. Gave away a silly free kick right at the end that could have cost us.
Egan 6/10 – Thought this was his poorest game of the season in that he let Deeney impose himself on him and the striker won several headers. Not sure he ever got on top of him or won the key battles. The goal came form a simple header he did not win when Chalobah flicked it on also and then they had other attacks where Deeney just flicked on. He has to make it harder for the target man but today felt physically Deeney actually won this battle. On the ball he was way too slow to move it on and they often realised his weakness in terms of coming out with the ball. He actually looked quite frustrated that he was not winning the 50/50 balls and started to retreat with Deeney being surprisingly too strong for him.
Norwood 7/10 – Our best midfielder and maybe rivalled Bash and Baldock for our best player in many quite ordinary individual performances. Some of his passes went awry but he always was looking to get on it and saw more of the ball than any other player on the pitch. Several excellent crossfield balls although it became a bit of a predictable tactic and we did not vary it. Took and confidently dispatched the penalty. Second half he was maybe guilty of trying to do too much. Still for me one of the standouts in rather meh type game.
Lundstram 5.5/10 – Really off the pace much of the game, particularly first half where nothing really went right. He gave it away a lot and made poor decisions in terms of when to keep it and when to release it. Defensively also his man ran off him a few times. He looked really sluggish. Second half he did improve a bit but still was not really affecting the game in terms of dribbling runs, passes or touches that affected the game. I was surprised he stayed on especially after he got a kick in the second half. He did have a decent volleyed effort.
Fleck 6.5/10 – Maybe a touch off his best but still did some decent things with a few driving runs and bits of interchange. Not sure he quite got on it as much as I would like nor got ahead of the strikers as much as he has been doing. Missed a really good chance at point blank range which was a good save but he had the whole goal to aim at and has to score really. Kept plugging away and looking for it but like others did not quite come off today.
McGoldrick 5.5/10 – Not his day today. His touches and flicks did not quite come off. He did drift off the front and try to get on it but today he may have been better staying up top as Watford sat so deep most of the game. Worked hard and chased bac to win a few tackles but he gave it away a lot and not sure he created much at all. He only had one rebound chance after the McBurnie effort that was crowded out and then the one that hit the post when he was offside but did not look remotely close too breaking his duck today. Surprised he stayed on as it was not working for him today at all. Everyone was hoping today would be the day but he never looked likely at all. Looked very tired at the end.
McBurnie 5.5/10 – As with McGoldrick, I felt the front two were as ineffectual today as they were effective at Brighton. A few days ago, they led the line, chased hard, linked and had lots of chances. Today they were second to the ball, did not even carry a nuisance factor and the centre backs had it too easy. They needed to work harder and hold it up more. It was a game of little quality so we needed to get up the field. I felt Deeney with scraps did a better job than these two today. Been decent recently but both strikers not at it today. He did not have the energy we saw at Brighton and the defender got in front of him a lot.
Subs –
Mousset 7/10 – Much better than the other two strikers. Had two runs down the channels and one was a great run and cross that nearly led to a goal for Fleck. He looked a handful and started to ensure we turned the defence round rather than it coming back. Not everything came off but he at least offered us something up top.
Manager:
Wilder 6/10 – A flat performance as he concedes where we did not do enough to win the game. Not sure either half we had enough tempo or moved it quick enough. It was a bit safe and slow. Like the Newcastle game they sat back and we could not break them down. Some players touch and passing was not quite as it has been but we needed to raise the whole tempo of our attacks and move higher up the field and even though second half we improved we still did not do enough. Surprised he did not make more subs. We did not really look like breaking them down and were huffing and puffing. Maybe Robinson and Sharp are not game changers but with lots of games coming up; not sure he would have lost a lot by trying something different. We just kind of carried on with the same cross field balls and hoping something would drop. I thought that is what we signed the likes of Freeman?
Watford – Seen a lot of worse sides at the Lane. They have picked up under Pearson who has got them more resolute, organised and defensively stronger. They are looking more dangerous on the break also. They could have got something at Liverpool and beat Man Utd and seem like they have a chance of maybe getting up the league when they looked dead and buried a few weeks ago. They have some real talent in the likes of Deulofeu and Sarr really talented individuals with pace and trickery. They have some experienced players like Deeney and Foster too. I am not sure they are any worse than a group of sides down at the bottom but will need to keep the momentum going as they have had such a poor start to the season. Pearson is a decent appointment and is a solid no nonsense manager who will ensure standards do not drop and ensure they are disciplined. Today they did not attack much but got a decent goal on the break, had a few other breaks and defended really well. They slowed the game down and time wasted but we would do the same in their position.
Opponent Man of the Match – Foster made a really good save first half and then a stunner in the second to get them a point. Deulofeu took his goal well and is a talent but is another that hits the deck way too much. A lot of ability but the fact he has gone from Barcelona to Everton to Watford sums up his lack of consistency, His play acting and waving at the crowd was pathetic too. He got booked finaly or moaning and groaning. I thought Deeney with little service won most aerial balls and caused us problems with his hard work. Sarr was dangerous early on but then got a knock and went off.
Opponent Weak link – I felt Femenia at the back could be got at but we did not really take advantage. I like Will Hughes but his passing and touch was poor today and he gave away a penalty. I also think Capoue is a big lad with good ability on the ball but he was happy to sit off it today. Mariappa and Cathcart are experienced pros but we never really tested them till Mousset came on.
Referee/Officials/VAR – We did not get any bookings so no one suspended and they got three mostly for timewasting or taking an age to go off when subbed/going off from the wrong spot. Thought Coote was a bi slow to penalise timewasting and also feel for some pathetic theatrics which saw Watford get quite a few free kicks. He gave a soft one on O’Connell on the edge of the box and that could have cost us and then one for us on Lundstram for barely a challenge made. The game became a bit stop start. We had one VAR decision with the offside and I thought maybe we might get one but no one seemed convinced and apparently replays did show it was offside.
Crowd/Atmosphere etc – Started off quite noisy once everyone was in and there were some moments of willing the team on but for the most part the flat-ish performance on the field was matched on it and it was all a bit quiet. The crowd tried to lift the side second half a few times but we struggled to keep the momentum going on and off the field. Not sure what happened to delay the kick off (operational issues they claimed and some said the turnstiles were not working in some areas of the ground? Seemed a lot were not in at 3pm anyway?) My rant against fans are aside from the latecomers and constantly going in and out; so many just sit and mess with their phones and not even looking at football. Two women to my left were comparing photos of families from Christmas Day. Best team we have had in most of our lifetimes and many are scrolling down Facebook and Instagram. Those that managed to get Wi-Fi as that remains awful inside the Lane. Anyway, Merry Christmas!
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United and Watford shared the spoils on Boxing Day at a wet Bramall Lane. The side who started the day on the bottom of the Premier League, came and defended well and got a breakaway goal through Gerard Deulofeu but United levelled thanks to Ollie Norwood’s penalty after George Baldock had been tripped by Will Hughes. After this United were the more likely to net the winner but a wonder save from Ben Foster denied John Fleck and the Blades had to settle for a point.
United brought John Fleck back in after suspension with Luke Freeman dropping back to the bench. Abdoulaye Doucoure was suspended for the Hornets so Nathaniel Chalobah came in. Skipper Troy Deeney was not back starting after a long run out through injury. The game was delayed for ten minutes due to operational issues as the sold-out home fans entered Bramall Lane in dire weather conditions.
The game began with little action and both teams feeling each other out but eventually United started to get a foothold and with the overlapping centre back O’Connell advancing down the left almost profited. His cross was turned instinctively goalward by McBurnie but Foster made a great reaction save and McGoldrick could not turn the rebound home. Soon after the Scottish striker had a headed chance but Foster made this save more comfortable after the effort came in from the penalty spot area.
Basham then was smartly able to make a tackle and clearance at the other end as Watford tried to break using the quick wide players Sarr and Deulofeu. United did have the ball in the net as Fleck turned home a Basham cross but with the flag up, the checks confirmed that it was indeed offside despite many in the crowd hoping that finally a decision might go for United for once but to no avail!
Against the run of play the visitors took the lead. The set up was simple in its execution with a long ball nodded on by Chalobah and DEULOFEU got in between Stevens and O’Connell and steadied himself before drilling in at the near post.
United tried to respond but Watford were sitting even deeper now and United were struggling to break through with the front two often getting crowded out and the Norwood diagonal and Baldock driving run, the main sources of a comeback. So it proved when United got level on 36 minutes.
Baldock got to the ball just inside the box and Hughes upended him. There were few appeals from the Watford team who seemed angrier with their own player for his stupidity. The VAR check so the spot kick confirmed. NORWOOD took it and drilled it low into the left-hand side of the net giving Foster no chance.
The final stages saw an Egan header saved comfortably and a few other moments where the home team probed but could not find an opening.
Sarr had struggled just before the break going down with an injury and had to come off to be replaced by Pereyra.
United did look to up the pace and an attack down the left saw Stevens ball fall to Lundstram whose fierce volley flew over. Then O’Connell’s low cross just evaded the front two and was cleared. United were now definitely forcing the pace. Fleck hit a low shot at the keeper and then McGoldrick was offside as he shot against the post a long time after the attack had been thwarted.
Mousset came on for the ineffective McBurnie just after the hour mark and soon the French striker was in on the action and he sprinted away from two men and put over an inviting cross that seemed perfect for Fleck but his effort from point blank range was superbly saved from Foster. It was a wonder save and stopped another goal for the United midfielder in a prolific season for him by his normal standards.
Stevens had a low shot saved by Foster and United won a series of corners but had to be alive on the break to any threat from some dangerous attackers. Watford were mostly now sitting in but United were struggling to create much of anything clear cut after the Fleck chance and a number of corners were cleared or fouls took place to stem any momentum.
Gray took the place of Deeney as Watford looked for fresh runners to help keep the ball up the field despite the home side looking more likely. The game entered the final 5 minutes and a rare Watford break saw O’Connell’s soft foul give away a free kick chance for Deulofeu whose floated effort went narrowly wide of the post with Henderson rooted to the spot.
Chalobah was booked for taking an age to go off as Watford threw another defender on in Dawson as their intentions were quite clear in terms of getting a point. United kept going and Egan had a header blocked before Mousset was blocked out of things on the angle. It was not quite happening and despite an additional 5 minutes of stoppage time, Watford actually had a free kick on the angle that came to nothing before time ran out on United as they sought one last final surge with the full-time whistle coming as United advanced. The heads on the hands of the home players showed how disappointed they would be with the result and performance but also shows how far we have come in such a short time at the top table of English football.
United – Odd one to describe as were not awful but were not brilliant. It was quite an average performance really that saw quite a few individuals not quite at it and the team as a whole not having the tempo, consistency of passing or attacking impetus to win the game. We had more of the ball, more chances and more corners. If anyone deserved to win, it was us but not sure we quite did enough really. We started the game sloppily and they then scored on the break not long after McBurnie had two efforts and we had a VAR goal ruled out (well it did go to a check!). It was such a basic goal to let in and this made it really hard as they would defend even more then. We did get level though quite quickly and felt we would really up it second half. Not sure it really happened and even though we did step it up, it was still too slow with too many touches and the final ball/moments not good enough. The front two were ineffective throughout and the service behind them not really good enough. We huffed and puffed and Norwood and Baldock kept probing but too many others did not take responsibility as Wilder said.
I also thought we misjudged the conditions at times. The ball was sticking a bit and we kept trying to pass it and this meant it slowed down even more. When Mousset came on we should have gone more direct and played it in and behind the top. He showed on one move he could cause them problems but then oddly we started going wide more then? We took way too many touches to do basic things and they just got men round the ball and we did not put hardly any crosses in of quality. Still for all that we still had much more of the ball and pushed them back more than they did to us but they will take the draw of course and feel Foster made one great save either half and that was it really. They did not make Henderson make a save the other way though and on another day those chances go in.
Foster made one stunning save but can’t remember any other really clear chances and they came closest to winning it with the free kick just past the post at the end. It was a frustrating afternoon but you kind of just take the point and move on. A few weeks ago, Watford would have not got anything but now are well organised and resolute and did enough to get a draw. For United, they have to do better in such games and ensure we play the game at a higher tempo and can go through the middle more as it became very predictable with the angled crossfield balls and we struggled to get overloads like we have done. I was surprised we did not make many more than one change. Still it’s another draw and we move on. If we had drawn at Brighton and won today everyone would have said what a great return from the two Xmas games. We now have two really tough games now away from home where we get anything and we will be delighted and maybe now with the pressure off and teams coming at us more, that may suit us better than the defensive set up of teams like Newcastle and Watford where they did not attack much and we had to try and break them down. I do think we are a better away team than at home and the record proves that but we will have to come up with a phenomenal performance to get anything at the Etihad.
Ratings:
Henderson 6/10 – Had little to do but I have to say I think he did not cover himself in glory on the goal. He did not come out to narrow the angle which was fair enough but then left his whole near post to aim at making it easy for the striker. He needs to be a few yards further across and make him go across him. Outside of this he had little do really in terms of saves but his kicking was poor as he constantly booted it to no one as all our players went across the other side of the pitch.
Baldock 7/10 – More dangerous than Stevens going forward and had a few galloping runs and then of course invited the challenge to win the penalty. He was sound defensively and always an outlet down the right second half but maybe at times took too long to do things/get the ball in the box. He did not have the overlap or extra man as he has in other recent home games.
Stevens 6.5/10 – Not sure it was his best day today and his touch/control and overall play was off where it has been. I felt this was the case at Brighton and he has had a few down games for him. Not awful but just not quite at his best. Attacking wise he over crossed or over hit it and not sure many attacks came from his side or his play.
Basham 7/10 – Our best defender and showed his reading of the game a few times including a lovely piece of improvisation and skill in the first half when he got himself out of a tight spot. Came across and covered a few times and was just solid really at the defensive side. He tried to get forward but they got lots of bodies across and our slow build up made it hard for him to find space.
O’Connell 6.5/10 – Ok from a defensive point of view for most of the game but he seemed slow to react to Deulofeu when he got clear and maybe should have got across quicker. Outside of this he defended ok and tried to get forward when he could and was quite well advanced first half and led to us gaining possession/winning corners/throws high up the field. Gave away a silly free kick right at the end that could have cost us.
Egan 6/10 – Thought this was his poorest game of the season in that he let Deeney impose himself on him and the striker won several headers. Not sure he ever got on top of him or won the key battles. The goal came form a simple header he did not win when Chalobah flicked it on also and then they had other attacks where Deeney just flicked on. He has to make it harder for the target man but today felt physically Deeney actually won this battle. On the ball he was way too slow to move it on and they often realised his weakness in terms of coming out with the ball. He actually looked quite frustrated that he was not winning the 50/50 balls and started to retreat with Deeney being surprisingly too strong for him.
Norwood 7/10 – Our best midfielder and maybe rivalled Bash and Baldock for our best player in many quite ordinary individual performances. Some of his passes went awry but he always was looking to get on it and saw more of the ball than any other player on the pitch. Several excellent crossfield balls although it became a bit of a predictable tactic and we did not vary it. Took and confidently dispatched the penalty. Second half he was maybe guilty of trying to do too much. Still for me one of the standouts in rather meh type game.
Lundstram 5.5/10 – Really off the pace much of the game, particularly first half where nothing really went right. He gave it away a lot and made poor decisions in terms of when to keep it and when to release it. Defensively also his man ran off him a few times. He looked really sluggish. Second half he did improve a bit but still was not really affecting the game in terms of dribbling runs, passes or touches that affected the game. I was surprised he stayed on especially after he got a kick in the second half. He did have a decent volleyed effort.
Fleck 6.5/10 – Maybe a touch off his best but still did some decent things with a few driving runs and bits of interchange. Not sure he quite got on it as much as I would like nor got ahead of the strikers as much as he has been doing. Missed a really good chance at point blank range which was a good save but he had the whole goal to aim at and has to score really. Kept plugging away and looking for it but like others did not quite come off today.
McGoldrick 5.5/10 – Not his day today. His touches and flicks did not quite come off. He did drift off the front and try to get on it but today he may have been better staying up top as Watford sat so deep most of the game. Worked hard and chased bac to win a few tackles but he gave it away a lot and not sure he created much at all. He only had one rebound chance after the McBurnie effort that was crowded out and then the one that hit the post when he was offside but did not look remotely close too breaking his duck today. Surprised he stayed on as it was not working for him today at all. Everyone was hoping today would be the day but he never looked likely at all. Looked very tired at the end.
McBurnie 5.5/10 – As with McGoldrick, I felt the front two were as ineffectual today as they were effective at Brighton. A few days ago, they led the line, chased hard, linked and had lots of chances. Today they were second to the ball, did not even carry a nuisance factor and the centre backs had it too easy. They needed to work harder and hold it up more. It was a game of little quality so we needed to get up the field. I felt Deeney with scraps did a better job than these two today. Been decent recently but both strikers not at it today. He did not have the energy we saw at Brighton and the defender got in front of him a lot.
Subs –
Mousset 7/10 – Much better than the other two strikers. Had two runs down the channels and one was a great run and cross that nearly led to a goal for Fleck. He looked a handful and started to ensure we turned the defence round rather than it coming back. Not everything came off but he at least offered us something up top.
Manager:
Wilder 6/10 – A flat performance as he concedes where we did not do enough to win the game. Not sure either half we had enough tempo or moved it quick enough. It was a bit safe and slow. Like the Newcastle game they sat back and we could not break them down. Some players touch and passing was not quite as it has been but we needed to raise the whole tempo of our attacks and move higher up the field and even though second half we improved we still did not do enough. Surprised he did not make more subs. We did not really look like breaking them down and were huffing and puffing. Maybe Robinson and Sharp are not game changers but with lots of games coming up; not sure he would have lost a lot by trying something different. We just kind of carried on with the same cross field balls and hoping something would drop. I thought that is what we signed the likes of Freeman?
Watford – Seen a lot of worse sides at the Lane. They have picked up under Pearson who has got them more resolute, organised and defensively stronger. They are looking more dangerous on the break also. They could have got something at Liverpool and beat Man Utd and seem like they have a chance of maybe getting up the league when they looked dead and buried a few weeks ago. They have some real talent in the likes of Deulofeu and Sarr really talented individuals with pace and trickery. They have some experienced players like Deeney and Foster too. I am not sure they are any worse than a group of sides down at the bottom but will need to keep the momentum going as they have had such a poor start to the season. Pearson is a decent appointment and is a solid no nonsense manager who will ensure standards do not drop and ensure they are disciplined. Today they did not attack much but got a decent goal on the break, had a few other breaks and defended really well. They slowed the game down and time wasted but we would do the same in their position.
Opponent Man of the Match – Foster made a really good save first half and then a stunner in the second to get them a point. Deulofeu took his goal well and is a talent but is another that hits the deck way too much. A lot of ability but the fact he has gone from Barcelona to Everton to Watford sums up his lack of consistency, His play acting and waving at the crowd was pathetic too. He got booked finaly or moaning and groaning. I thought Deeney with little service won most aerial balls and caused us problems with his hard work. Sarr was dangerous early on but then got a knock and went off.
Opponent Weak link – I felt Femenia at the back could be got at but we did not really take advantage. I like Will Hughes but his passing and touch was poor today and he gave away a penalty. I also think Capoue is a big lad with good ability on the ball but he was happy to sit off it today. Mariappa and Cathcart are experienced pros but we never really tested them till Mousset came on.
Referee/Officials/VAR – We did not get any bookings so no one suspended and they got three mostly for timewasting or taking an age to go off when subbed/going off from the wrong spot. Thought Coote was a bi slow to penalise timewasting and also feel for some pathetic theatrics which saw Watford get quite a few free kicks. He gave a soft one on O’Connell on the edge of the box and that could have cost us and then one for us on Lundstram for barely a challenge made. The game became a bit stop start. We had one VAR decision with the offside and I thought maybe we might get one but no one seemed convinced and apparently replays did show it was offside.
Crowd/Atmosphere etc – Started off quite noisy once everyone was in and there were some moments of willing the team on but for the most part the flat-ish performance on the field was matched on it and it was all a bit quiet. The crowd tried to lift the side second half a few times but we struggled to keep the momentum going on and off the field. Not sure what happened to delay the kick off (operational issues they claimed and some said the turnstiles were not working in some areas of the ground? Seemed a lot were not in at 3pm anyway?) My rant against fans are aside from the latecomers and constantly going in and out; so many just sit and mess with their phones and not even looking at football. Two women to my left were comparing photos of families from Christmas Day. Best team we have had in most of our lifetimes and many are scrolling down Facebook and Instagram. Those that managed to get Wi-Fi as that remains awful inside the Lane. Anyway, Merry Christmas!
