Watford Player Ratings

[MC Prussian]

I know this is the ratings thread, but I sense it went off topic before me.

Think a few people need to get a reality check here, we are still a newly promoted side, finding our feet and we have a decent haul of points so far.

Some people on here are starting to get greedy, wanting Cafu at right back, Torres up front with Fryatt and a 5-0 away win alla West Brom. We seem to have a well rounded squad, with some bright young players and results like today will only make them better.

Lets face it, former leicester sides would not have regained a point following the previous events in todays game so that is a very encourging sign.

This is not about fans thinking too greedily. It's about one single game of football.

Second half at Watford was even more shocking than the first 30 minutes against Peterborough. And that's an issue to be cleared by Pearson & Co. And like I've stated before, all three goals against came through the middle. Same with Blackpool's and Peterborough's (build-up to the peno) at the Walkers in the past seven days.

If throwing away a 2-0 lead at halftime is an "encouraging sign" for you, then we haven't been at the same match.

We're good, but we can do better than that.

[Budweiser]

This is not about fans thinking too greedily. It's about one single game of football.

Second half at Watford was even more shocking than the first 30 minutes against Peterborough. And that's an issue to be cleared by Pearson & Co. And like I've stated before, all three goals against came through the middle. Same with Blackpool's and Peterborough's (build-up to the peno) at the Walkers in the past seven days.

If throwing away a 2-0 lead at halftime is an "encouraging sign" for you, then we haven't been at the same match.

We're good, but we can do better than that.

[clazkel]

Weale - 6 Didn't do much wrong, maybe needs to communicate with the defence abit more

Berner - 7 Brilliant first half, quiet second half as they pumalled us

Hobbs - 6 Solid first half, dont know what happened second half, but poor defending for their goals

Brown 5 As above

Nielson - 6 He didnt pick the player up for their 3rd goal

Gallagher -6.5 Some nice movement and runs

Wellens - 7 Looked lost when he went off as he seems to protect the defence

King - 6 When the going gets tough he always disappears

Oakley - 6 Needs Wellens in midfield to give him space or he seemed abit lost 2nd half

Howard - 6 Loses too many free kicks, tried tho. I think he shouldve went off rather than Fryatt

Fryatt - 8 Loving the fact he is proving he can do it in the championship, great second goal, good movement

Adams - 6.5 Looked better on left, some good runs, linked up play, i would like to see him playing more often

Waghorn - 6.5 Sharp and lively

N'Guessan - 7 Lovely goal, made afew decent runs

Fans - i thought the fans were great first half, but its funny how quick fans can change and start calling the players wan###s. I understand the frustration but i thought some of the abuse coming from some fans was harsh.

[Lillehamring]

Totally agree about Morrison and I have no idea why he was dropped for Neilson who I dont rate at all.

i would imagine NP has concerns about playing hobbs and morrison together, and has selected neilson based on the fact that 1. he is much more experienced and 2. he is actually a right back.

as far as king is concerned, i'm glad to hear thracian mention his blocks at the end, when watford were all over us it was king's name that i kept hearing time and again with blocks and tough tackling.

bert, i think your singling out of thrac is a tad unfair - he rated king .25 higher than wellens, which is hardly bum licking, and most people here have rated him comparibly with the other midfielders,

and you yourself seem to be a little inclined to generosity towards howard, who by most accounts had a stinker...

anyway, good to read everyone's reports, but let's try not to be too critical of each other's opinion

[Fox92]

Look inside The Sun, look at our match report and then take a look at the picture that is with our match report of Watford scoring their third goal.

Look at Weale, he has moved his head and hands out the way so he doesn't get hurt - it looks like he is scared.

[Fox92]

I've seen him twice in the flesh and once on TV, and wouldn't rate him as a player worth more than a 5. Ever. Seems a harsh comment but he struck me as one of those also-ran journeyman players we've seen so much of in the past. In fact, I wrote him off entirely from one pre-season match.

I always felt Morrison acquitted himself very well at right-back so I'd love to hear from anyone going regularly this season the reasons why Neilson should be holding down the slot in favour of him?

Totally agree about Morrison and I have no idea why he was dropped for Neilson who I dont rate at all.

Well I have seen Nielson 4/5 times so far this season and in those games that Nielson has played, there has been nothing wrong with him.

He is solid, he gets forward, he defends, he gets stuck in alot, he is good in the air and there is nothing wrong with him IMO.

And about Morrison playing full back - against Swansea, Morrison was getting caught out all the time becuase he is really a centre back (nothing against Morrison becuase I love him but you can't play him at full back when he's a centre back, its like when Liverpool play Carragher on the right) and although you could get away with it at League 1, it aint gunna happen in this division.

Plus, I hate a centre back playing right back, feel more comfortable with a natural right back in Nielson.

N'Guessan is the one that I haven't been impressed with.

[clazkel]

I think Nielson has been playing ok, but i feel sorry for Morrison as i dont think he has done anythng wrong but always gets dropped. I think he deserves a place in the team, whether its right back or in the middle, he should be playing. I know Tunchev is a great player but i would like to see Morrison and Hobbs at the back as it worked towards the end of last season. If hes right back it also gives more height at the back. Adams should be playing on the left as he links up play. But im sure Nigel knows what hes doing

[dogadug]

Morrison > Neilsson

[SamL]

Weale 6

Nielsen 6

Brown 6

Hobbs 5

Berner 6

Oakley 6

Wellens 8

King 6

Gallagher 7

Fryatt 8

Howard 7

Subs: - Waghorn (7), N'Guessan (7), Adams (6)

[Budweiser]

Well I have seen Nielson 4/5 times so far this season and in those games that Nielson has played, there has been nothing wrong with him.

He is solid, he gets forward, he defends, he gets stuck in alot, he is good in the air and there is nothing wrong with him IMO.

And about Morrison playing full back - against Swansea, Morrison was getting caught out all the time becuase he is really a centre back (nothing against Morrison becuase I love him but you can't play him at full back when he's a centre back, its like when Liverpool play Carragher on the right) and although you could get away with it at League 1, it aint gunna happen in this division.

Plus, I hate a centre back playing right back, feel more comfortable with a natural right back in Nielson.

N'Guessan is the one that I haven't been impressed with.

I agree with it all apart from the N'Guessan part, I think he will be quality. Fantastic header yesterday.

[maddog]

We need Howard. End of. He is the outlet ball for us and no-one can hold the ball up as well as him, let alone his headers.

I wouldn't mind seeing Dany up top instead but we are only 8 game in. If a player has had a slow start to the season so what? Atleast give it until we've played 15 games, and if Howard still hasn't scored a couple of goals, then I MIGHT change it.

Howard always loses control of the ball, never scores headers and gives away fouls and struggles to hold it up.

And did anyone see his shocking 1st touch yesterday where it hit his shin and rolled yards away

I think that lead to a Watford goal too.

Howard did have a hand in the 2nd goal to be fair, but i still think it's time we put Gallagher up front with Fryatt, because Gallagher is pants on the wing, and he had a hand in Watford scoring 2 yesterday with his shocking standing in empty space yards away from the player before tamely putting his leg up in the air to try and block the ball.

Looks like Hobbs and Neilson combo were seriously at fault for 2 of their goals, Hobbs mainly because he missed a easy header away.

[C-man]

Nielson and Hobbs were directly to blame for the first, Bruno Berner's glancing header presented HH with his first goal and Nielson was caught napping badly for the third.

And ironically, I thought Wayne Brown was our worst defender in the second half!

[marbelladave]

First half all our players deserved 7 or 8.

Our back 4 was untroubled defensively and Berner and Neilson both got forward well but Neilson's crossing needs some work. Our midfield 3 were outstanding once they settled, interchanged well and were in total control. Gallagher was allowed to come inside, playing largely in 'the hole'. Howard was largely superfluous, leaving Fryatt largely unsupported.

Despite our total control of midfield we still made few real chances, the penalty was unearned and Fryatt's goal was made from next to nothing.

Still overall we played well and deserved out lead.

Second half you are looking at mostly 5 and a few 6s.

We sat back looking to contain, Berner and Neilson made no effort to get forward. Watford really came at us and almost immediately we lost Wellens. Difficult as that was for us, what was much worse was the total dislocation of our midfield that was the result, our players did not have a clue and our back 4 was hopelessly exposed.

Suddenly it was chaos in defense, Brown looked out of his depth with the ball on the floor, Hobbs as is often the case tends to mirror his partner and became jittery. There were words between Weale and the two of them and it was obvious we were in deep shit.

Waghorn and N'Guessan largely ignored the static Howard and played round him to give us a barely deserved draw.

Lots to take in, some promising signs, some awfully disjointed play as well, good luck sorting it out!

[lildave3]

His runs were good. I'll give you that.

His passing. Shit. His ball retention and ability to keep possession. Shit. His final product. Shit. His priority is to defend and he was caught out of position too many times today. The big difference between Neilson and Gilbert, is Gilbert had the pace to get back and generally did.

Neilson struggles which leaves a wide area exposed, and it means Hobbs has to come over and cover, which leaves gaps all over the place for opposing midfielders to run into.

Don't forget the patented 'Robbie Neilson Spoon Cross '

[lou]

Well I have seen Nielson 4/5 times so far this season and in those games that Nielson has played, there has been nothing wrong with him.

He is solid, he gets forward, he defends, he gets stuck in alot, he is good in the air and there is nothing wrong with him IMO.

And about Morrison playing full back - against Swansea, Morrison was getting caught out all the time becuase he is really a centre back (nothing against Morrison becuase I love him but you can't play him at full back when he's a centre back, its like when Liverpool play Carragher on the right) and although you could get away with it at League 1, it aint gunna happen in this division.

Plus, I hate a centre back playing right back, feel more comfortable with a natural right back in Nielson.

N'Guessan is the one that I haven't been impressed with.

You didnt see the game yesterday then?

In my opinion Morrison is a better option.

[orangecity23]

A little food for thought on Neilson, he's won 2 penalties in 2 games now. Looking back at the Peterboro peno, really he should have stuck a toe poke on the ball, instead of (mis)controlling it, and then he would have scored. Would people have been lauding his performance then? I think quite a few people are being too harsh on him. His defending looks ropey for yesterday's goals, but there's a collective failure of the entire midfield and back 4 on all the goals.

I also think everyone is forgetting how bad Morrison is at getting forward from right back too (remember the Swansea game?). Defensively he's strong, but going forward he looks clueless when he gets the ball. And no matter how bad Neilsons crosses can be, they're still better than big Mikes. Morrison is a centre back, thats where hes best, and if we're talking about competition for Neilson, it would be better in the form of an on loan dedicated right back perhaps.

If anything, Neilson reminds me of old Skills Eric Johanson, they even look alike, and everyone loved Nils. Neilson's being talked about as if he's the bastard son of Alan Rogers and Satan though.

[lou]

A little food for thought on Neilson, he's won 2 penalties in 2 games now. Looking back at the Peterboro peno, really he should have stuck a toe poke on the ball, instead of (mis)controlling it, and then he would have scored. Would people have been lauding his performance then? I think quite a few people are being too harsh on him. His defending looks ropey for yesterday's goals, but there's a collective failure of the entire midfield and back 4 on all the goals.

I also think everyone is forgetting how bad Morrison is at getting forward from right back too (remember the Swansea game?). Defensively he's strong, but going forward he looks clueless when he gets the ball. And no matter how bad Neilsons crosses can be, they're still better than big Mikes. Morrison is a centre back, thats where hes best, and if we're talking about competition for Neilson, it would be better in the form of an on loan dedicated right back perhaps.

If anything, Neilson reminds me of old Skills Eric Johanson, they even look alike, and everyone loved Nils. Neilson's being talked about as if he's the bastard son of Alan Rogers and Satan though.

Youre joking right? I dont know anyone who loved Nils.... he was awful

I dont think Neilson is that bad I just prefer Morrison thats all. Id have Gilbert back too!

[Jiggers the Fox]

What annoyed me about the goals was that they all looked like the same goal when i watched the replay. Ball crossed in from the right, followed by a header towards the back post (from our own players mostly!) and then a pretty easy tap in. It was my bad for not seeing this coming at half time though! was never going to be straight forward!

[orangecity23]

Well, I suppose Nils was loved in more of an ironic way, rather than for being good .

[lildave3]

So all Robbie Neilson has to do is score a vital last minute winner towards the end of the season, simple.

[davieG]

So all Robbie Neilson has to do is score a vital last minute winner towards the end of the season, simple.

In the play-off final then it'll be Super Robbie Neilson

[Daggers]

I dont know anyone who loved Nils....

You do now.

[lou]

You do now.

theres always one

I kind of love him for not playing for us anymore

[Fox92]

A little food for thought on Neilson, he's won 2 penalties in 2 games now. Looking back at the Peterboro peno, really he should have stuck a toe poke on the ball, instead of (mis)controlling it, and then he would have scored. Would people have been lauding his performance then? I think quite a few people are being too harsh on him. His defending looks ropey for yesterday's goals, but there's a collective failure of the entire midfield and back 4 on all the goals.

I also think everyone is forgetting how bad Morrison is at getting forward from right back too (remember the Swansea game?). Defensively he's strong, but going forward he looks clueless when he gets the ball. And no matter how bad Neilsons crosses can be, they're still better than big Mikes. Morrison is a centre back, thats where hes best, and if we're talking about competition for Neilson, it would be better in the form of an on loan dedicated right back perhaps.

If anything, Neilson reminds me of old Skills Eric Johanson, they even look alike, and everyone loved Nils. Neilson's being talked about as if he's the bastard son of Alan Rogers and Satan though.

Yep, should of never let him go

[Sparky]

Just read the sunday mirror ratings

Weale 5

Neilson 4

Brown 5

Hobbs 6

Berner 4

Oakley 5

King 6

Wellens 5

Gallagher 7

Fryatt 6

Howard 7

subs all 5

Bizzare ratings compared to what ive read on here , King better than Wellens ? Howard better than Fryatt ??