All Activity

Yeah sorry - bit of a maths failure from me. 16 and 32 would be better. Or change the overall tournament to 40 teams in 8 groups of 5 teams with top 2 going through to round of 16.

They missed out, 2.40pm-stadium empties.

But again at the 48 team world cup, you have most 3rd place teams qualifying so there is absolutely no jeopardy in the group stages. You win one game and are basically through.

On a bigger scale, Chelsea under Abramovic were the same.

He was stubborn and clearly trying to prove a point in season 2, but the squad had been ripped apart and filled with crap, and has also become over reliant on sub par academy players or existing rubbish that had to play a more prevalent role. I suspect the Isak situation has really hindered them so far in qualifying. He did start yesterday but as shown at Liverpool is still unfit.

Starts tonight Its only against Armenia, but a win will see Hungary leapfrog them in the table, he may now be first choice keeper for them I think

I'm not sure of the relevance of any of those things. I'm well aware of our history all of which occurred under a different ownership - a proactive engaged ambitious owner / his legacy and not the current shysters. I've told you what Watford have achieved under their current ownership - promotion, PL survival and a cup final. None of which these owners or their mates will ever deliver here, even by accident when the opportunity drops into their lap unexpectedly (Mowbray, JDT, Eustace). Watford achieved all the above with their hire and fire culture - ruthless and decisive - not everyone's cup of tea but it got them up. The first season they went up they had 4 managers in a season and the second time around they sacked Ivic after no time despite a high win %. Only time will tell if it is a good move to sack their manager. If they shoot up the table then it probably has been a good move yes. If they get relegated then no. It suggests to me that whoever is making decisions there is actually looking at the bigger picture - not just a few results - and probably speaking to people behind the scenes, players, staff and assessing whether all is well or not. These all normal routine things for most clubs - ownership and management actually keeping an eye on things and ensuring changes are made for the betterment of the club and results. Alien concepts here I'm sure even you could agree. We haven't seen invested ownership or a focus on results since the day these people darkened our doors. It's similar to Forest - Marinakis doesn't mess about and won't hesitate to sack people. You might not like that approach but it has worked for them - another club that has left Rovers in the dust when 10 years ago we were well ahead of them.

JDT is - from what I saw at Rovers in his first season - a very good fair weather manager who can build a team and get more than you would expect out of it's constituent parts. But as he is from the Ange Postecoglou school of "lets throw everything into the attack and let the defenders figure it out" he's not great when things start going against you and you need to batten down the hatches, as we saw in season 2.

A 40 minute kick about. Rather watch Shearer and Sutton play heads and V's against Tim Flowers.

I am not so bothered by this personally. The tournaments are only every 4 years each so having quite a big tournament where there is a fun group stage for a couple of weeks and then it gets serious in the knockouts is fine my me. Agree max that should get out of a group of four is two though. The 24 euros was fine. There were still a lot of fun games in the euros group. I think it should be similar at the 48 team world cup. In an ideal world as others have said there should just be a nations league over two year seasons that also covers the qualification for the major tournaments. No separate qualifiers, very few friendlies. You'd end up with the same amount of games, but many more played against higher quality opposition, and with something at stake.

Questioning why we need 3 number 10s then advocating 4. I would suggest that Foden is more comfortable as a deeper midfielder out of the 2 although you wouldnt start either there.

I would take Rogers as he plays as the 8 plus 10. Eze can play wide left and number 10.. I would take both and left Foden at home. Just like I would TAA. Its 27 man squad

Did Paulo Pezzolano after 10 games with 3 wins. 3 draws and 4 lost? new head coach in a new league. Maybe need time to adapt to it bring Coyle into this debate is clueless and pointless argument. Borderline ridiculous to be frank

Then surely Eze and Rogers are also left at home? You take 26 players, I think if you have 3 players of that quality, you take them for sure.

You're talking about a bygone time, may as well talk about Crompton et al for the relevance it has to our current situation. For the avoidance of doubt, Watford are a far better run club than ours and are far more likely to taste success (by any metric you choose) than we are under the current regime.

But do we need a third number 10 after Palmer and Bellingham in the squad? I dont think so.

Backing a manager blindly for a random and definitive period of time doesnt automatically lead to success. Maybe we should have given Coyle a season or 2?

Foden wouldnt necessarily start but anything like in form, hes a level or 2 up from Eze/Rogers/MGW.

No.

If someone like TAA or Foden are left out then so be it. TAA wouldn't be first two choices at right back. Is Foden better than a Bellingham, Palmer or Eze? We shouldn't shoehorn players in for the sake of it but we need to take a balance squad and players playing in their proper position. Something we should have learned from previous tournaments

Watford sack managers too often, but at least they do it as they’re chasing success. We’re chasing fuck all.

Nowhere hear what we did tho. King Kenny did here taking us to PL and then winning the league. Souness got us promotion and League cup winner.. Hughes got us top 10 finishes and regular European football. Not bad for town club in North West is it? 😁 Watford might achieve something like playoffs if they actually back a head coach for a couple of season. Sacking their head coach in 11th place seriously.a good move after 2 wins and 1 draw in their last 3 games?.

Are you attending a football game this afternoon like arbitro is and I would probably have this afternoon? Not interested in another round going around in over the EFL TV deal with yourself AGAIN

At least they have a proactive (very active) approach to their club, can question their patience, but at least they care. Comprare and contrast to whatever our ‘custodians’ are supposed to be.

I'll have to think about that. There's the Cherry Tree, Byatts Brewhouse (Lythalls Lane) and the Wheatsheaf but I'm not sure away fans are allowed in. I haven't lived in that area for years. Apparently the Longford Engine on Longford Road is open to away fans. Longford Road has a few pubs on it but some might be a bit ropey.