The Watford game. Were we lucky?

[Collymore]

After a marvellous start to the campaign, Watford have now gone five Championship matches without a win - and Boothroyd sought no excuses for a poor showing.

"That was the worst we have played all season," he admitted.

"But we are a young team who will get things wrong before we get them right - and we got a lot wrong today.

"The energy we have showed this season was lacking and in the first five minutes I felt I'd been transported into a testimonial game."

But although his side were bettered all over the pitch, Boothroyd insisted his side remain stronger than Leicester.

"When we are firing on all cylinders, Leicester are a team we would expect to beat," he said.

"But we will have a few off-days before we become as good as we can be."

Is this sour grapes from Boothroyd or could it be that we caught Watford at their worst, and even then we only just managed a win.

[The People's Hero]

Mind games. He has a young side and he wants to keep them confident.

Also, I think they're good start and lots of praise for him in the praise has made him head swell a little.

[Gené and Tonic]

It did sound as though Watford weren't at their best. But even the comentator who was a Watford fan said that that was because of the way Leicester were playing. We were better than them, we didn't let them play. (plus we didn't park a bus in front of goal)

[breadandcheese]

I'm of the opinion that we didn't actually play that well.

We had three or four players who were outstanding (namely Dublin, Kisnorbo, De Vries, Sylla) whilst the rest performed average to not so good. I think the average performers were hidden by the four aforementioned players.

So in actual fact, whilst Watford may not have played well, we are still better than the performance we gave yesterday.

[martyn]

Not lucky in the slightest. Watford probably had the majority of the play (especially 1st half) but really apart from their goal, they only had 1 gilt edged chance (the one Dublin cleared off the line).

We had the Hammond lob, De Vries screwing a clear 10 yard effort wide and the Hume effort at the end, all better chances than anything Watford could really muster.

I thought the problem with Watford was for all their mobility and movement up front, they never really looked like finding that cutting edge to break us down. Like someone has said, however, we weren't actually that good yesterday, especially 1st half where I thought we were pretty poor.

[frenchy_lcfc]

Not lucky in the slightest. Watford probably had the majority of the play (especially 1st half) but really apart from their goal, they only had 1 gilt edged chance (the one Dublin cleared off the line).

We had the Hammond lob, De Vries screwing a clear 10 yard effort wide and the Hume effort at the end, all better chances than anything Watford could really muster.

I thought the problem with Watford was for all their mobility and movement up front, they never really looked like finding that cutting edge to break us down.

Totaly agree with you there Martyn. And we would of scored way more in the second half, if the assistant referee when he kept giving offsides when we weren't!!

[Thracian]

Seems to me Levein got his tactics right and neutralised Watford's supply to their fast and dangerous strikers.

Our major stroke of good fortune was that Dion was there to clear off the line when Nils was skinned early on cos a goal to Watford just might have shaped the game.

However, you can equally argue that a centre-backs' job is to cover til the death and Leicester could claim to have been equally unlucky when Hammond's shot got a fluke bounce which lifted it over the bar.

Consensus seems to be that Leicester were dominant and if Watford were stifled that's down to Levein. It was also heartening that this was a 90 minute display.

There are definitely good signs now.

[cisono]

Undoubtedly, we were also somewhat lucky. For instance, some referential decisions actually went our way for once... so there was a luck component, isn't there always? At least this time it was in our favour.

Watford simply didn't play - whether it was a problem on their part or it was Leicester that neutralised them (mentally or physically on the pitch), they simply did not manage to play at their usual level.

Leicester did manage to convert more chances than they normally have been. I am hoping that some of this is due to skill, improved concentration, improved teamwork etc and not just sheer luck.

In any case, I'd like it to be something that can be repeated / drawn upon in future games...

[Guest Gist]

At times we were lucky but i thought we defended well enough we should of won by a few more if hammond new the offside rule

[rossporterlc]

i hate that last comment he made, the cheeky git

[Samu]

A friend of mine who I met on holiday (a Watford fan who has a good knowledge of football) gave me what sounded like a fairly accurate summary of the match by saying that Leicester had the better chances but Watford probably shaded possession. He also stated that no one was outstanding on either team nor was anyone woeful. I think it was just a close match which we managed to shade, to be honest I think there's been a few occassions this season when we've been on the wrong end of a close match...it's all part of football.

[Scow]

Not lucky in the slightest. Watford started better than us and we struggled early on, but we fought our way back in to the game and took control. Our balanced midfield ensured we could attack and defend as a unit effectively. Surely Levein will have to stick with having two out and out wingers - it provided the team options out wide to stretch the opposition. Having someone like Tiatto narrow left distorts the balance of the team as he drifts all over the place and negates his positional responsibilities.

One thing that did concern me was Johansson (As mentioned in another thread). We know he's a centreback and not a left back, and that showed against Watford. He tended to stay too close to his centre backs, which allowed Watford to expose us down the left. Too slow and not mobile enough to play there.

[Michael Doyle]

Sounds like the mighty foxes hung in there until the end and didn't concede another late and unnecessary goal. Levein has been saying this for a while. We were giving stupid goals away and the rub of the ball was not going our way. We now have a great chance with two home games to take maximum advantage of this much needed victory. Lets hope we can say we are on a run of victories after the Coventry game.

COME ON YOU FOXES

[Ric Flair]

I'm of the opinion that we didn't actually play that well.

We had three or four players who were outstanding (namely Dublin, Kisnorbo, De Vries, Sylla) whilst the rest performed average to not so good. I think the average performers were hidden by the four aforementioned players.

So in actual fact, whilst Watford may not have played well, we are still better than the performance we gave yesterday.

But that's what we've been lacking. Each game that we've dominated we've had 3 or 4 players that have had bad games and let us down. On saturday we had 7/8 steady players and 3 or 4 that played out of their skin and drove us on to victory. This league is all about who wants it the most, I think we showed on saturday that we want it badly.

[Guest]

To be honest I don't care. I'd rather be lucky and win, than look fantastic and get nothing. Of course, looking fantastic and winning is the preferred way forwards, but I don't think we're in that position yet.

[Jimmy]

even if we were lucky, isnt it about bloody time we had some good look?

mayb leveins int. break of watching back our games just allowed him to realise what was good and what was appauling about his tactics and teasm selection so far this season.

or maybe he fdound this message board and took a few hints. i dont know and TBH i dont care as long as the lads build some confidence and start a winning run. i do get the feeling we're about to hammer someone sometime soon, hopefully coventry on sunday

[Ric Flair]

even if we were lucky, isnt it about bloody time we had some good look?

mayb leveins int. break of watching back our games just allowed him to realise what was good and what was appauling about his tactics and teasm selection so far this season.

or maybe he fdound this message board and took a few hints. i dont know and TBH i dont care as long as the lads build some confidence and start a winning run. i do get the feeling we're about to hammer someone sometime soon, hopefully coventry on sunday

I couldn't bare it if we lost to those wankers. I hate Coventry so much and the fact that little urchin is manager of them makes it even worse, we MUST beat them. Another 2 wins this week will put us in the top half and could be the start of something, we need to start making platforms like this if we are to improve and push on.

[Manwell Pablo]

I was their and do not think we were lucky at all De Vries wasted to go chances and hume should of scored. I remember Douglas making one save and of course Dion somehow stopping that goal. Mcarthy looked good at the back as well. Must say im warming to Kisnorbo after that display. Watford werent looking good, prolly down the fact we were to physical for them. we deserved to win by more and this is refelected by Leviens comments.

one thing that was lucky was me getting in for 15 quid on me out of date student card

[Ric Flair]

Did anyone back us at 3/1 to win? I had a fiver on us to win, a fiver on bolton to win and a fiver double. At one stage it looked like it was going to be a very nice afternoon. I still made a tenner profit, but if it had all come in i'd have won a few hundred quid.

[Guest Gist]

I was their and do not think we were lucky at all De Vries wasted to go chances and hume should of scored. I remember Douglas making one save and of course Dion somehow stopping that goal. Mcarthy looked good at the back as well. Must say im warming to Kisnorbo after that display. Watford werent looking good, prolly down the fact we were to physical for them. we deserved to win by more and this is refelected by Leviens comments.

one thing that was lucky was me getting in for 15 quid on me out of date student card

yes he had a good game

[Guest Gist]

even if we were lucky, isnt it about bloody time we had some good look?mayb leveins int. break of watching back our games just allowed him to realise what was good and what was appauling about his tactics and teasm selection so far this season.

or maybe he fdound this message board and took a few hints. i dont know and TBH i dont care as long as the lads build some confidence and start a winning run. i do get the feeling we're about to hammer someone sometime soon, hopefully coventry on sunday

too right it is we never do

[alieren7]

You know you can't win the match if you are not lucky. But City r playing good football( i am telling that by watching highlights). I believe that this team will be very well in the near future, lets just support our team! COME ON FOXES! SING SING WHEREVER YOU MAY BE, WE ARE THE FAMOUS LEICESTER!