Shroppie

I agree about trying the formation and almost agree on personnel. I have doubts over Boufal's ability to link play to the front two. Not Redmond either, but I'd consider Davis, Tadic or JWP in that role. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

I thought Hoedt was sound. I understand Lemina was rested after travelling. I agree about Virgil. No point in having kept him if we don't play him, and his return will be a lift for the whole team. I think we may see him next week - may be easier for his first game to be away. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

I went the long way round. [emoji6] (And I confess, by train) Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

We'll have to agree to disagree as I don't think Austin runs at all and has worse control than Long, who also can cross a ball. Agree about his finishing, but when did Austin last score from open play? I'm closer to you on Boufal etc., but IMO Tadic is the only one who occasionally gets his head up and sees a pass, but he does dither pathetically when he gets a shooting chance. Boufal and Redmond play for themselves and are like headless chickens. And Boufal is a lightweight headless chicken. I think he's had his chance. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

He offers far more than Austin. And Boufal as a #10? That requires the ability to read the game and make telling passes, neither of which he can do. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Agree almost entirely. In fact I posted pretty well the same a couple of pages back and glad to see another reasoned post agreeing. And I'll see your 392 miles and raise you to 408. [emoji6] Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Did Lemina do a lot of traveling last week? Maybe why he was rested. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

I'd go with that, but probably Davis for PEH. Just as long as Redmond and Boufal are out of the starting lineup. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

I agree about Tadic, but it's time to drop Redmond, and Boufal's not the answer either. Give Long a start so that we have pace and a more direct option. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Didn't post last night as was drowning sorrows. In the cold, sober, light of day..... Firstly, Watford were good. Stronger than us, sharper than us, better organised than us, more committed than us. They deserved it. And it asks a lot of questions of MP. On our individual performances: Forster - hesitant, taking no pressure off the defence, probably should have saved at least the second. He now seems even more reluctant to come for high balls. Time for him to be rested. I thought the back four all had decent games. Good start for Hoedt, didn't do much wrong. Stephens made some important tackles and interceptions and I wonder if he can convert to DM. Cedric and Bertrand got forward, with little support inside. Romeu - not his greatest game, but it was hard work for him as Davis looked tired and ineffective and provided little support. Neither of them were close to getting in a block for either goal - in fact JWP was closest to getting in the way of the first. They struggled against a strong midfield to get hold of the ball and retain it, let alone distribute effectively. Hopefully Lemina will improve things - I was hoping he'd come on at half time. JWP also was largely anonymous. I'm normally prepared to defend him, bit without supply he didn't work to get the ball. But the huge problems were Boufal and Redmond. They both seem to be playing for their own glory, not the team. Boufal in particular runs into dead ends, doesn't get his head up to look for a pass. His teammates noticeably don't seem able to anticipate what he's going to do, and look like they're not expecting a pass. His one good moment, when he got to the byline was spoilt when he then blindly cut the ball back too deep, behind Gabbiadini. He was also very weak in challenges. When Hoedt headed the ball out just before their second goal, when it dropped, Boufal was brushed out of the way like he didn't exist, then made no effort to recover. And I'm not convinced game time will improve him. Much of that also applies to Redmond, except that he has less skill. He frequently lost the ball and when the deflected shot fell to him near the end he blasted it into the side netting when Tadic and Gabbiadini were both unmarked six yards out. He just didn't look. He is a very average player who for some reason keeps getting picked. Gabbiadini looks very dispirited, and I'm not surprised. No service and he's not a natural target man, so that won't work, especially with no movement around him. In his early games he looked sharp, with really good movement pulling defenders all over the place. I'm worried that he now looks slow and disinterested. Of the subs, Tadic improved things, but he still has awful moments. For example, ignoring a chance to shoot, turning hopeless circles then falling down embarrassingly. Sorry, but I don't think Austin added any threat. Long, on the other hand, immediately brought some energy and a different problem, epitomised by chasing down a lost cause and winning a free kick. I accept his finishing frailty, but he brings pace. One major problem is that we have Cedric and Bertrand getting forward on the wings, but Redmond and Boufal are mainly trying to occupy that same space, but less effectively. We have zero threat through the middle. Whether the solution is a change of formation, for example to 3-5-2 or 3-4-3, or a fundamental change in the personnel, what is clear is you can't just keep on doing the same things and hoping that, miraculously, it'll start working. I'd like to see a front four of Tadic, Davis, Long and Gabbiadini next week, but that will no doubt be ridiculed. But Boufal and Redmond need to know they need to make far more of a team contribution. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Forgotten? Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

I'm expecting to see the three behind Gabbiadini made up from Davis/JWP plus two from Boufal, Redmond and Tadic. For me, it's a problem that those three are too similar, and at the moment are failing to deliver. I'd be interested to see Long started instead to add pace. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Davis is our best #10 option. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Fair enough. I was being a tad cynical. But we do need a balance: holding the ball and seeing a pass, even if it is sideways is necessary as well as having that bit of flair to beat a player or play the killer ball. My comment about Boufal, and it also applies to Redmond to a lesser extent, is that for me, all too often when he's done something really good he spoils it either by trying to do it again and failing, or by not using the advantage gained to play a telling pass. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

No. He just runs until he loses the ball. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Trouble is, Boufal isn't much of any kind of passer. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

But it's a team game and it's not just a question of putting in the theoretically best player in each position. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

He isn't all bad. His intercepting and tackling are strengths, but he does get caught out positionally and is relatively weak in the air. But he's still developing, and any time he can get alongside Van Dijk or Hoedt will help him. When VVD goes, he will be a strong contender to start. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

You obviously haven't seen Boufal, Tadic, Redmond together. It doesn't work, as none of them can link play, hold the ball and find a pass and be available to do the simple things. They need a Davis or JWP to provide for them. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Hopefully sulk mode disengaged. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

I see your point and he probably won't start. But I do think he'll be on the bench and get some time. Another way of looking at it is to get him on the pitch as soon as possible - worked with Morgan. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

The media won't be interested in making a story of it as it doesn't match their agenda of the "big clubs" signing players. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Or ".... Someone moaning about someone moaning about ...." [emoji16] Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

The fact is, very few facts are known, and things do change. I wouldn't like anyone to stop posting rumours, but I agree they should be recognised as that, and not anything definitive. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Can we please retitle this thread" How do you solve a problem like a bunch of bickering, sniping posters more interested in having a go at each other than discussing a topic?" Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk