Watford (h) pre-match thread

[supercity88]

There was a cross KDB put in the other day which sailed past the near post with Aguero nowhere near it.

If you had never seen KDB play, there would be a slight excuse for it, but really, as a striker, you should guess it anyway.

Kelechi, for us, was a game winner with stuff like that. (Not at Leicester, he missed one he would score for City with his eyes shut)

This is where Aguero is lacking for me this season. There was one that did reach him in the first half and he had time to take a touch and pass t in but hit it first time under no pressure and put it wide by some distance.

He looked sluggish and I have no idea what is going on with him but without Jesus we lose so much energy. Sanchez in the short term wpuld be a huge improvement due to his high energy levels. We didnt force errors from palace because Aguero barely closed them down. Sane did a lot of running but he was the only one until Sterling came on. That off the ball work is key to our success. Aguero needs to step up tonight because Watford have the ability to create more chances against us if we play with such low energy.

Perhaps tiredness is hitting but we have enough players who have played very little relatovely up to now. We have got through December and need our key players back. A successful January and we can be in the league cup final and have the league near enough tied up. Staying in the FA Cup too is going to be a push. This will be a challenging month.

 

[Blue Hefner]

what injuries (other than Jesus/Bendy) - gen q by the way

I should have worded it better, I should have said injured and tiredness

I can’t see De Bruyne playing, I can’t see David Silva being at the races due to his recent personal issues, whatever they are. Gundogen playing so many games in a short space is bound to have an effect given how little he has played. I’m not sure how fit/un-fit Stones is

 

[mosssideblue]

For me it’s just having someone who the majority of time is a goal hanger,might take away slightly from the team in terms of pressing but I feel we need someone like that,can’t have players dribbling past three four defenders all the time and scoring,the type who scored in the derby last season at the shithole when everyone stopped playing as they thought the striker was offside the ball fell to him fortunately,but it’s being in them positions it’s something that you can’t teach, it’s an uncanny sense to be in the right position at the right time ..

Sterling is doing this is he not?

 

[sir baconface]

Nacho has nowhere near the level of skill Sterling has, let alone the speed of thought and body to deliver what pep would expect. We simply will have to agree to disagree

That's not really the comparison though. The point was simply that Nacho often had the knack of being in the right place to finish moves, which might have been come in handy recently. It's not about whether he should have stayed or whether Sterling is more effective overall.

 

[Blue Llama]

it’s an uncanny sense to be in the right position at the right time ..

You mean like Sterling has.

 

[Blue Hefner]

I am concerned what the atmosphere / crowd would be like and whether that will affect the players. Given the kids went back today or (my son) tomorrow - the family stand is going to be half empty .

I am not going tonight as nipper has school tomorrow - given weather forecast for later as well hope crowd is ok.

Whoever heard of a game on 2 jan at night anyway - stupid idea.

Is Gill doing the scheduling.

The time and timing of the game is ridiculous but unavoidable given we played on New Years Eve

 

[mosssideblue]

I should have worded it better, I should have said injured and tiredness

I can’t see De Bruyne playing, I can’t see David Silva being at the races due to his recent personal issues, whatever they are. Gundogen playing so many games in a short space is bound to have an effect given how little he has played. I’m not sure how fit/un-fit Stones is

I may be wrong but I believe other than Bendy and Jesus, we Pep has all to select from (but as I say, I may be wrong)

 

[mosssideblue]

That's not really the comparison though. The point was simply that Nacho often had the knack of being in the right place to finish moves, which might have been come in handy recently. It's not about whether he should have stayed or whether Sterling is more effective overall.

A hypothetical argument no? Sterling has been in "the right place" quite often recently and still we are debating missed opportunities

 

[ninjamonkey]

Agree. These last few games we have had a lackluster first 45 only for Pep to hair dryer them at the interval.

It's very noticeable and it's no coincidence how often we've scored within a few minutes of the second half starting right after Pep has been in their ear for 15 minutes. I get sometimes the plan is to tire them out over the course of the game but given most players will have a week before their next game after tonight there's no reason not to go out and try and blow them away in the first 20 minutes. Just want to see a return of that intensity and relentless feeling of "we're going to run you ragged and not let you breathe until we score and decide we're comfortable" that we've not seen for a number of games now if i'm honest. Against Palace it wasn't really there, KDB showed it in glimpses inbetween trying not to get put in a wheelchair and Kyle Walker definitely showed it in the last 10-15 minutes but nobody else did.

 

[Wooter]

Deeney's only injury is fatty liver syndrome due to Xmas Turkey overdose.