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Match Ratings Ratings vs Watford

Your Man of the Match

  • Gazzaniga

    Votes: 92 45.3%
  • Aurier

    Votes: 42 20.7%
  • Toby

    Votes: 4 2.0%
  • Jan

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Tanganga

    Votes: 3 1.5%
  • Winks

    Votes: 3 1.5%
  • Lo Celso

    Votes: 40 19.7%
  • Dele

    Votes: 5 2.5%
  • Lamela

    Votes: 5 2.5%
  • Moura

    Votes: 1 0.5%
  • Son

    Votes: 1 0.5%
  • Eriksen

    Votes: 1 0.5%
  • Gedson

    Votes: 1 0.5%
  • Undecided

    Votes: 5 2.5%

  • Total voters
    203

double0

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2006
14,423
12,258
Some positives:
Aurier once again showing he is underrated. MOTM.

Better defence and more creative players on the pitch. If we only had a target forward...

Mourinho starting to realise Allis real level.
Thought Alli put in a proper shift.

He looked the most likely to create and score when he was on.
 

SugarRay

Well-Known Member
Jul 6, 2011
7,984
11,110
i thought he had a mixed game, some silly fouls and caught out of position, but got forward well at times and put a few good balls into the box

If people didn’t focus massively on his often glaring mistakes during certain games, this could describe every game he has ever played I suspect! The only player I’ve ever seen who can literally have a great ten minutes and a dogshit tewenty followed by another good spell. Most player have a good game then a poor one etc, Serge breaks this down to ten minute spells!
 

Ionman34

SC Supporter
Jun 1, 2011
7,182
16,793
I was actually quite concerned about this game due to their form and knowing that they’d be very physical, but our boys matched that physicality and, despite one or two moments, one culminating in the penalty, defended very well I thought.

Dele had one of his moments, unfortunately Lucas didn’t, which would have given us a marginally deserved lead.

Capoue should have had a straight red, if we have any kind of consistency in the rules. How was that any less reckless than the challenge that saw PEA get a straight red? Regardless, not even a Yellow when Tanganga gets one for far far less?

The ball handled by them in the box twice, nothing, ya once, immediate penalty.

Best ref in the Prem? My left hairy one!

Now the rant is over, I saw further signs for optimism that JM is getting his work done on the training pitch. Defensively pretty solid and, more to the point, concentration levels there for the full 90. A mixture of some long ball, counterattacks and some build from the back. Once again though, apart from his ball through to Moura, Alli seemed to slow every break down to a crawl as soon as it got to him. I also felt he was extremely weak in the challenge today. For a 6’ plus player he’s very lightweight and slow, seems to bounce off other players like he’s made of rubber.

Putting everything into context, I was quite pleased with the performance today, apart from up front. Ok it took a penalty save, but it was a deserved clean sheet for me. Hopefully this solidity carries on as this is the foundation to build from.

Honourable mention too to Tanganga. CH, RB and LB in his last 3 games, which happen to be his first 3 in the Prem, and has been brilliant in all of them despite being targeted. Massively impressed by this kid.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
That was actually quite a brave selection today, and a very un-Mourinho like one. Away from home against a physical Watford side, that battered us into submission in this fixture last year, who have put together some wins and are full of confidence. Don't think many expected a side loaded with technical attack minded players with an adventurous look to it.

The problem is though that with that XI you need the game to be played under certain conditions for them to shine - control of the ball, control of the game, be able to push up the pitch and play in their half, and just football them to death. The first 10 minutes was a snapshot of how the game needed to be played from our perspective. Get the ball down, some nice interchanges in the final third, probe away for the opening.

But there are two teams involved, plus the natural flow of the game. Sometimes these conspire against your intentions. Watford after the initial opening spell were able to play direct, long ball and wide play, get up the pitch and make the game scrappy. People can say we didn't do anything or look threatening but the ball was often not under control, we were clearing our lines or just throwing a head/foot in and not able to get the ball down and build our way up the pitch and use any superior technical and footballing quality.

I thought as team we battled well though and weren't physically dominated and held our own, certainly competed far better than the loss last season for instance. We eked out a couple of chances from quick transitions, they had a spell where they had a couple of very good ones in return, and the missed penalty cancels out the goal line clearance millimetres from going in our favour. On the whole the draw was a very fair result.

Individually I thought most put in a good effort and did a shift at least, which hasn't been a given for so long now. Son probably the most disappointing in this aspect. With the ball there were moments I thought all our attackers could have been a bit sharper, but that's been true week in week out since time began. Win, lose, or draw.
 

theShiznit

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2004
17,800
23,813
Observations:

They handled the ball twice in the penalty area and we got nothing, they did once and got a penalty

A rare clean sheet playing away

Tanganga was stifled against Sarr due to playing in an unfamiliar position with an early yellow card which should never have been given

Despite the rhetoric against him in the Match Thread, Aurier kept their best player Deulofeu quiet, including saving a certain goal

I liked what I saw in the 10 minutes of Gedson

The goal line technology is fallable after all.

Gazzaniga my MOTM



:
Not sure what you mean?

_____________

Combination of low confidence and a poor first touch cost us today. They sat off us to start with until they realised we aren't the same team we once were and came at us.

Individual musings.
Gazza, saved a pen from the cheat that's built like a tank but falls with a touch of a feather.

Jan, was ok. Unfortunate for the pen.

Toby seems so unsure when to engage the ball or man. Often losing the flight of a ball to engage the player or backing off when he's the favourite for the ball. Basic defending.

Japhet, given a hard task against Saar with no real protection, but grew into it.

Winks. Thought he was good another good throughball to Son who wasted the chance.

Alli. Poor rightly subbed and reacted like someone that thinks he's better than he is.

Son. Has acres in the first half and never really did anything with that space with or without the ball. Big chance he fluffed

Moura, as an attacker he's a good tackler with endeavour... Fundamentals of his game are average at best.

GLC, got some more minutes in his legs, had some good link ups

Lamela, as above

Aurier did well.

Gedson, ran past the ball and shows for the ball looked tidy in possession.
 
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Dillspur

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2004
3,747
9,926
I thought we played well for the most part against one of the form teams of the PL, the first 20 minutes we were excellent with the ball just couldn't find the killer pass.

We should have had a penalty and VAR should have intervened as the ref clearly motioned that his arm was by his side when the replay showed it wasn't.

I thought Lo Celso was very good and the 10 minutes from Gedson was encouraging.

Son is in the middle of a barren spell, but he has always been very streaky, I wouldn't be surprised to see him get 5 or 6 goals in the next few games.

All in all I think there's more positives than negatives.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,392
Nothing against Gazza, but he guessed right on a piss poor penalty and is smashing it in the ratings.
 

Ionman34

SC Supporter
Jun 1, 2011
7,182
16,793
Seriously have a look at yourself. He had an OK game, but no where near mom.
He did well in a game where no one really stood out. His opinion was that Aurier was the one who had the better game.

You don’t have to agree with it, in which case cast your own vote.

I’d say you need to take your own advice.
 

DenverSpur

Well-Known Member
Sep 25, 2011
1,915
5,508
We did well against a very physical who are the form team of the moment.
We really need a physical presence up front. With this front line we needed to keep our width to create gaps for players running from deep but we didn’t - 5 players all competing for space in the width of the penalty area makes it very easy for their defense.
Gedson looks like he could be useful.
Aurier had a good game overall but I wince every time he goes to make a tackle in the box.
Lo Celso got more game time under his belt to help get more accustomed to the pace of the PL. Like that he’s always looking for the forward pass.
I gave Winks MOM(I was the only one) for being disciplined and sticking to his task as the holding midfielder. Our back line was less exposed than of late.
 

EastLondonYid

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2010
7,837
16,145
The sooner some our fans get that it's all about a rebuild from now on the better.

I am starting to see it with the new kid at the back, our new signing this week and I have no doubt there will be more coming more so in the summer, add ndombele, sissoko and Harry and I am really confident Jose will give us a really decent team very soon.

A season out of the CL is inevitable, and deserved so for the way levy has let us come to this,

Today wasn't great but alot of positives too

Mom Aurier

Decent. Gazza and the back four
 

JimmyG2

SC Supporter
Dec 7, 2006
15,014
20,779
Away point against a team on form.Content? Not really. We were were not great and nor are they.

Aurier....8-............My MOM. He played well. No-one else excelled. Give him the money Barney.
7+...........................Gazzaniga. Eriksen
6+............................Lamela, Lo Celso, Toby, Tanganga, Winks, Dele
5+............................Verts, Son, Moura
Fernandes looks promising but looks can deceive.
Only 2 subs again. Is this a thing?
Ten minutes of co-ordinated foot ball at the start.
Relieved rather than disappointed.
Safe in 8th.for the moment.
 
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