Watford 2-2 Saints - Match Thread

[Suhari]

Decent couple of attacks.

Good effort Azaz.

[Saint NL]

Azaz so close to scoring

[V.Johnathan.Wilson]

Feels like I'm watching us play against our old selves with this Watford waffling at the back. 

[benjii]

Our pressing is pretty intense today. Looks a little scrappy at times but Watford aren't enjoying it.

[OttawaSaint]

Good pressing gets us two decent chances.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Azaz with a really solid tackle and free to get a shot away. Not much strength on the shot. But again, Manning puts over a good pass, and we have numbers up to do something with it. 

[obelisk]

Better passing from Saints.

[OttawaSaint]

Twatsmouth are winning...

[Jack]

Well on top now. Need a second 

[Saint NL]

Build up play is much improved 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Baz's first touch isn't crisp. Do I worry? Nope, it's Baz. Cool as you like. 

[Toadhall Saint]

Need to get another here.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Our closing in wasn't great allowing that cross coming in that Stephens had to get a touch on. Need to be sharper there. 

[Suhari]

Bit of pressure from them.

This is entertaining.

[SNSUN]

Josh Sargent pen for Norwich. 

[Doctoroncall]

30 minutes ago, ibizasaint said:

https://es.sportplus.watch/football/championship/7047710/

Thanks. A bit sketchy at times. 

[AlexLaw76]

We are the better side, just need to be wary of a quick break down our flanks.

Their irrakunda looks very good.

Archer doing well, also we are not just hoofing up to him

[obelisk]

Another iffy 1st half from Saints but still good value for a one goal lead. It'll all click soon I'm sure.

[SNSUN]

Only Matsuki on the bench that could add to our midfield, 2 GKs, 3 Defs and 3 strikers. Shows where we need reinforcements still.

[sockeye]

Half-time.

The first first-half performance I'd describe as decent this season. Defence feels a bit wanky but you can tell we're starting to gel a bit. I fancy us snatching a couple more in the second half.

Edited Saturday at 14:49 by sockeye

[HarvSFC]

We've been good today. Winning the ball back well and Watford have been struggling. Archer's having his best game in a Saints shirt. More of this in the second half, please.

[Toadhall Saint]

Wee man has been excellent 

[Saint NL]

Half time.

Deservedly winning, but we still look a bit shaky at the back. We got fortunate that thier goal was disallowed, it looked very soft.

But some very promising signs going forward, we look much more fluid now. Archer looks like the striker we hoped to sign, he's putting himself about a bit too.

 

[Sunglasses Ron]

Always happy to take a half time lead on the basis that we should be stronger from the bench in the second half.

[Disco Stu]

Good to see Archer full of confidence. Hopefully we continue to encourage Robinson to take on his man and run direct with the ball.

Edited Saturday at 14:57 by Disco Stu

[benjii]

1 minute ago, SNSUN said:

Only Matsuki on the bench that could add to our midfield, 2 GKs, 3 Defs and 3 strikers. Shows where we need reinforcements still.

Ve have ze German.

[sockeye]

Also with Portsmouth in the lead, we need to score again to make sure our GD is superior. I'd feel sick if we were to go into the derby below them.

[beatlesaint]

2 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

Only Matsuki on the bench that could add to our midfield, 2 GKs, 3 Defs and 3 strikers. Shows where we need reinforcements still.

We’ve signed a German U21 international, I don’t think he’s come here to sit on the bench

[Holmes_and_Watson]

That was an okay first half. We're not really near where Still wants us to be, but some of the basics were in evidence. 

As posted by lots, Archer looks sharper. We're already seeing the team look to support him a lot more, both in the right kind of delivery and in numbers getting up to support. 

There's a little more forward shape in play today. 

I thought we'd miss Downes a bit more. If not for passing it back, then in harrying back and helping to cover. But Fraser has been doing decently doing that at times, and Azaz a couple of times further up. 

We're well worth our lead But at 1-0, we have to be sure to stay sharp, close down with intent and continue to release the forward line. 

[CB Fry]

2 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

Only Matsuki on the bench that could add to our midfield, 2 GKs, 3 Defs and 3 strikers. Shows where we need reinforcements still.

You know we bought a midfielder and a winger yesterday right?

[OttawaSaint]

That was pretty decent. We look to press and get forward. Can't complain too much about that. Let's have another goal or three please!

[Sheaf Saint]

That's our best half we've played so far. The formation doesn't seem to be hurting us today and there's been some really good individual performances.

Archer looks like a different player now he's got his confidence back. 

Fraser and Robinson working really hard and putting them on the back foot.

Roerslev has really impressed me at RB. What an upgrade on Sugawara. 

Azaz hasn't got on the ball as much as I would have liked so far, but not a bad debut by any means.

How refreshing it is to see Saints dominating a game. Feels like so long since I've seen us playing confident, fast paced attacking football.

[Hopper]

Archer looks up for it. Azaz’s speed of thought is evident excited to see what he can unlock for us. Wood has been excellent again too.

[O_Lord_Marian]

3 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

We are the better side, just need to be wary of a quick break down our flanks.

Their irrakunda looks very good.

Archer doing well, also we are not just hoofing up to him

No way is he just 19, looks late 20's.

[badgerx16]

3 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

Only Matsuki on the bench that could add to our midfield, 2 GKs, 3 Defs and 3 strikers. Shows where we need reinforcements still.

Don't forget Jander and Fellows.

[OttawaSaint]

Fawa, here's the highlights of 1st half. Crashes right before the goal that I didn't get to see live due to it crashing.

[Saint NL]

I guess Woods won't be claiming that as an assist 😂

[Greedyfly]

24 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

Tessem saying the Watford goal should have stood but Bazunu wasn't strong enough 

He's spouting bollocks then.

 

I don't like Bazunu at all, but that was a foul all day long.

[Doctoroncall]

Watford seem to run out of steam in the second half, conceding late goals and not scoring any. 
 

…so expect a come back from the home team. 🤪 

[Sheaf Saint]

4 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

We got fortunate that thier goal was disallowed, it looked very soft.

Nah, the Watford player clearly held Baz and stopped him from coming for the ball. He tried to make it look innocent, but it was clearly intentional.

[Mr Dad]

How's IPTV working now we are in this league?

 

[macca155]

Good half, both THB and Stephens look more comfortable with Nathan 'Brick Wall's Wood taking responsibility for aerial balls. 

Frazer is very busy and both Robinson and Archer are keeping Watford's defence busy.

On top and hopefully that continues, but I hate 1 0 as you just can't relax.

It could all go to horribly wrong yet.

[Saint NL]

Just now, Mr Dad said:

How's IPTV working now we are in this league?

 

Perfectly for me. League cup was fine too.

[Sheaf Saint]

1 minute ago, Mr Dad said:

How's IPTV working now we are in this league?

 

There's less channels (obviously) but it's been near perfect for me so far.

[Saint NL]

Just now, macca155 said:

Nathan 'Brick Wall's Wood t

He seems to enjoying heading things.

The kind of guy that doesn't open his door with a key, just nuts it open

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Just now, Sheaf Saint said:

Nah, the Watford player clearly held Baz and stopped him from coming for the ball. He tried to make it look innocent, but it was clearly intentional.

I did see one stand recently. But there was a lot less contact on the 'keeper in that one. There was clear holding back of Baz there. 

 

Obviously we'd all still have liked him to have shrugged off the challenge anyway, and rose majestically to catch the ball before throwing it up the park while still in mid air for Archer to get on the end of for a goal. It's something he's just going to have to work at. 🙂 

[coalman]

Fraser has really competed well in the middle of the park. Has been really aggressive in the tackle. Robinson struggling to make an impact. Overall our attacking play is looking more and more cohesive.

[obelisk]

2 minutes ago, macca155 said:

It could all go to horribly wrong yet.

The eternal half time Saints mantra.

[saints-til-i-die]

IPTV? Does that have a stream?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Just the 46% possession. 

Somewhere in Glasgow, Russell shouts "What have you done to my project?!" at the TV. 

Nearby, Lucy keeps her thoughts of how much better we play to herself. 🙂