Straight 4-4-2 today first half

Mellis and Dawson on the wings. I'm going to repeat that: Mellis and Dawson on the wings. You didn't have to be a genius to know what was going to happen and I'll leave it with you to imagine. Whatever you are imagining it was much worse.

Those who point to the budget when explaining our failings have got a point, of course they have, we're competing with big spenders in this league and we're at a disadvantage. Such an argument goes some way to explain what's wrong, but it's not the whole picture, it probably isn't even the half of it. The team we picked today wasn't good enough in terms of personnel and tactics. I don't mean it wasn't good enough compared to Watford, clearly it wasn't, I mean it wasn't good enough in terms of what we had available. It wasn't even close to that.

David Flitcroft has said that to question his team selection is to question his integrity. If that's the way he sees it then I'm afraid I'm going to have to do that. Players picked in certain positions today were not the best we've got for those positions. They just weren't.

The final score is not really a fair reflection of the second half performance. I don't mean we were within a chance of winning it, we weren't, at any stage, but we can consider ourselves very unfortunate not to have scored at least once and we should probably have got three. But as it is we lost the second half 2-0. Perkins let his man go who fired a shot in to the corner from outside the area. I thought Steele could maybe have done better with it. Then Perkins gave it away on the edge of the opposition area after our free kick and their man ran the length of the field to slot home. Another five Watford players were breaking forward. We bring everyone back to defend any set piece in our own half and never break forward.

We went 3-5-2 second half and all three substitutes did well, looked skilful and created chances for themselves and others. Probably our best three players. Although it easier to play when the opposition are 3-1 up and have taken their foot off the gas.

Why was this Jason Scotland's first start of the season when he can score goals like he did first half? Terrible miss towards the end like.

I must talk about Luke Steele after having a go at Pollitt when he played. I didn't think he stood a chance with 4 of the goals. I don't know if he could have got to the 4th or not as it was right in the corner, but there is certainly a question mark about it. He then made a few regulation saves and a few good ones. The best Championship keeper right on the top of his game might have limited Watford to just 4. Or they might have let another couple in.

Watford were a very good side. I don't know if our manager could have fielded a team from what he has available that would have won the game. But I do know there's a team in that squad that wouldn't have got hammered 5-1 and made a much tighter game of it.

Flicker did a fantastic job last season motivating the team. I've never seen a squad of players so up for it. Everyone he called upon gave it everything they'd got. I put that down to the manager. But anyone who doesn't think there are serious questions about team selection and tactics this season hasn't been watching the games that I have. Asking questions doesn't mean demanding the sack. We're not at that point. But something's not right.

 

He got the players motivated and playing at 100% every match this season , which made up for a few players lack in quality, this year we seem to be playing at half tempo

 

If he were honest with us that would be a start

"Its Reuben's time." etc. Im starting to dislike the guy, sorry, if he were getting results I would ignore it but his interviews are rambling nonsense, which is ironically a reflection on his tactics and formation. Mellis is our best player, bar none, and gets hauled off at 3-1 down, I'd imagine the mood in the dressing room is now reflecting the fact that quite a few think he's on his way, so for me I'd bite the bullet and get shut whilst we've a chance to get the best one that's out of work. Leicester away then Reading & QPR, its going to be a painful death otherwise.

 

Keeping Perkins on baffled me.

 

I came away happy that we had created chances at last, Scotland tried holding the ball up in front of the net and not out on the wing and gave us more than the obligatory O`Grady out ball. Laz gave us a threat at free kicks rather than powder puff floaters, Flicker did the right thing at Haif time and took off the 2 worst players, but it was the formation and starting personnel which killed us.

Good team Watford played some good stuff by some classy players, this aint excusing anyone by the way.

 

As usual Jay, an excellent post.