Watford Home Match Thread

[BKLFox]

2 takeaways from the sides, 1 Faes certainly looks to be on his way out 🙏 & 2 Tom Ince is still playing 😳 

[Md9]

Time to give Nelson and okoli a run in the team if they can stay fit. 3-2 win 

[MrsJohnMurphy]

Hopefully with Okoli playing we go a bit more direct

[Corky]

It really is striking (no pun intended) just how drab our options are in that department. Should have gone to try and get an exciting League One/ Two striker with a youngster working up rather than these bland choices.

[Richmondfox]

3 minutes ago, The Doctor said:

Short of playing Jake Evans or Lorenz Hutchinson for 90 minutes every week, or going out there and sticking Mavididi up top, we've got no alternative really. Absolutely rancid squad building

Yet we do have alternatives to Ayew. We know what he will do on the pitch and the impact he has to attacks.  It’s in the manager to stop him doing those things which hinder the team. A weak manager with zero ideas is letting the players repeat this week in week out.  Playing Ayew for 90 mins every game only to drop him further back to offer even less support. 
 

Sticking with a known known that peaked several years ago and getting the same results instead of risking a known unknown youngster. 

[The Doctor]

1 minute ago, Richmondfox said:

Yet we do have alternatives to Ayew. We know what he will do on the pitch and the impact he has to attacks.  It’s in the manager to stop him doing those things which hinder the team. A weak manager with zero ideas is letting the players repeat this week in week out.  Playing Ayew for 90 mins every game only to drop him further back to offer even less support. 
 

Sticking with a known known that peaked several years ago and getting the same results instead of risking a known unknown youngster. 

Playing a scholar for 90 minutes each game, 46 times a season is not a reasonable alternative. 

[Richmondfox]

3 minutes ago, MrsJohnMurphy said:

Hopefully with Okoli playing we go a bit more direct

And let Nelson do all the passing quickly out the back.  

[Richmondfox]

Just now, The Doctor said:

Playing a scholar for 90 minutes each game, 46 times a season is not a reasonable alternative. 

As opposed to playing Ayew. What outcome do you think would be different? 

[The Doctor]

1 minute ago, Richmondfox said:

As opposed to playing Ayew. What outcome do you think would be different? 

The difference is that throwing the academy player in at the deep end risks damaging their progression. We should be having them off the bench 20, 30 minutes frequently, they're bright prospects and ready for that next step of frequent sub appearances or a League one/two loan, but playing them for a full 90 week in week out is not sensible management for their development.

[Muzzy_no7]

11 minutes ago, Ryy said:

Silko isn’t an academy graduate 

Correct 

[Mark]

Playing no striker would be better than Ayew. At his best he'll score a goal every 10-15 games from open play, and a penalty here and there. A complete of everyones time

 

Put Ramsey and Monga in the 11 instead of Ayew and Reid and there's hope. Keep wheeling the same crap out and nothing changes.

[Larry_LCFC]

If we don't get a striker in January, I genuinely give up with this shower of shit club.

[Pliskin]

0-3 down after 20 minutes today. Game will end 2-3 in the end following a “spirited comeback”.

[lcfcsnow]

Only change is down to a suspension, he's changed nothing from a team that was 0-4 down at half time.

[Lambert09]

32 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

 

Lots of moaning and I know that after last week it’s hard to back a team, but short of hooking Thomas… this is still our best team 

[Richmondfox]

1 minute ago, Mark said:

Playing no striker would be better than Ayew. At his best, he'll a goal every 10-15 games from open play, and a penalty here and there. A complete of everyones time

 

Put Ramsey James and Monga in the 11 instead of Ayew and Reid and there's hope. Keep wheeling the same crap out and nothing changes.

He usually drops deep or drifts into Mavs space and avoids being a strikers. between them you barely get a pass to a team mate or a quick cross. If the clown insists on playing him, he needs to goal hang and not involved in any buildup play. 

 

Hopefully Nelson won’t be doing a JV impression like last week. No walking to the halfway line and blasting the bal for Ayew to not control. We need him to be quick out the back so Ricardo can receive the ball further up quicker so he won’t get pressed as much. 

[gurru991]

How bad is Carranza that  Ayew starts ahead of him ??

What a mess of a squad Rudkin has built !!

 

Edited 26 December 2025 by gurru991

[MGLCFC]

27 minutes ago, The Doctor said:

Good to see Vestegaard dropped. Thomas next please.

He's injured, otherwise he'd have played no doubt.

[PhillippaT]

27 minutes ago, damolcfc said:

Nampalys Mendy with a last minute screamer to win the game 🫣

It'll be a nom-palace for Mendy then?  

[PaulW]

28 minutes ago, Ryy said:

Silko isn’t an academy graduate 

Ex - Development squad player...splitting hairs a bit there!

[Wortho]

Surely we can’t be as flaky and weak as last week? Or can they🙈

[PhillippaT]

1 minute ago, Wortho said:

Surely we can’t be as flaky and weak as last week? Or can they🙈

Don't go there  

[TheUltimateWinner]

1 minute ago, Wortho said:

Surely we can’t be as flaky and weak as last week? Or can they🙈

Marti: “hold my £5 Chang”

[whoareyaaa]

Should see some change with Vesty out finally, think Abdul and Mav will score.

 

Not a fan of Ayew up front either way to slow

[AyewJoking]

58 minutes ago, PaulW said:

Stolarczyk; Ricardo, Nelson, Okoli, L Thomas; Skipp, James, De Cordova-Reid; Fatawu, Ayew, Mavididi.

 

Subs: Begovic, Faes, Choudhury, Aluko, Page, Ramsey, S Thomas, Monga, Carranza.

 

Nine Academy products in the squad!

Thomas and Choudhury dont count as they are shit