Ryan Mason

[Omegstrat6]

Was not able to watch or even listen to the Millwall game so am now catching up with the full match replay on Albion tv. So far, have only watched the first half which, tbh, was not as bad as I expected. The first 30 mins or so, with the exceptions of a few forays into our end, seemed mostly played in their half and while Watford's decision to not press off the ball led to a bit too much walking football with sideways passing across the back between Gilchrist, Phillips and Mepham rather than moving the ball forward faster, I wasn't too unhappy with the general intent and desire. Mikey in particular, as well as Styles, Price and others seemed up for it.

Watford began to come into it in the last 15 mins but we were good for going a goal up and Price's strike was decent. We were still lacking in some incisiveness and quality in our final play but the intent at least seemed there. Guess the second half will tell a different story?

[Lindenbaggie]

It?s not just the squad albeit there could be improvements but the boring and s hite football - sideways - backwards and sideways. That?s Mason! Do you honestly think those supporters at Millwall and Watford should just say - oh well! Had we played like N Ireland v Germany and every player gave blood and pressed and pressed but lost then many would say - they couldn?t do no more!

Should we keep blaming Lai and we nearly went bankrupt blah blah blah. Let?s therefore keep blaming Blair for the unrest in the Middle East and Thatcher with the Poll Tax or Cameron not having the balls to make a Brexit decision.

Good managers should do the best with what they have FFS and many do.

He didn't have either Molumby or Collyer last night, missing one was bad enough. Looking to the future, why not give Styles a game in midfield-good enough to play there against Portugal wasn't he?

[baggieal]

He didn't have either Molumby or Collyer last night, missing one was bad enough. Looking to the future, why not give Styles a game in midfield-good enough to play there against Portugal wasn't he?

Shame Collyer got injured but expected a bit more from him. Molumby and Mowatt don?t work well together as too slow or no creativeness. Styles could be good but gives the ball away a lot. Does not help with Mason swapping and changing key positions although I get the need for rotation. For me Bostock could be better than Wallace and Junior but it will take balls to risk him but he?s a great player.

Feel even more aggrieved at the Fellows sale for pittance and then you get a very average Junior or Wallace who was past it two seasons ago albeit ok for a sub.

If you looked at Watford last night who are nothing special but their players kept trying to get the ball forward and had quick feet on the ball which we lack!

[Omegstrat6]

Just finished watching the second half. Typical "game of two halves" match. First half wasn't brilliant but we mostly controlled the game but coming into the second half a goal down Watford understandably now showed far more desire and intent which led to a few tasty challenges (not helped by the rain and pitch conditions).

Our problem seemed to be that we couldn't cope properly with their new found intent and when we did regain possession we too often tried the sideways/backwards passing thing rather than getting the ball forward quickly enough. We might have been able to get away with this in the first half when Watford were content to sit back but not now with them continually pressing and too often we were either forced further back or lost the ball. When Campbell was beaten for pace and Phillips couldn't get the cross out from under his feet it was almost inevitable that Watford would get their equaliser and then their tails were up.

Wasn't quite as bad as I envisaged as we had a few runs and chances with Mikey and Mowatt particularly still up for it but couldn't really get back into it. Mowatt put a lovely ball in for Price to head but that was about it really.

As Watford continued to look to increase their 2-1 lead while we struggled to pull one back, I could understand the subs tbh. Styles had been ok going forward but replacing him with Taylor shored up the defence, Heggabo had worked hard but produced little so Maja replaced him and Junior had had a few decent runs but had faded in the game (as had Price) so Grant replaced him. Neither Maja (mostly an end product man who needs the service) nor Grant made much of an impact though.

Not quite sure about swapping Diakite for Dike. Didn't think Diakite played that badly tbh (though I'm sure he wouldn't have started if either Collyer or Molumby had been available) but maybe the thinking was to both give Dike some game time and that bringing on another striker might increase our chances of getting another goal? In any case Mason didn't have any midfield options on the bench to replace him with-though I'm sure Al would have preferred seeing Ollie Bostick being given a chance than Dike.

Not a good performance by any means, especially second half when we really struggled to deal with Watford's new found intent but IMHO not as poor as the Millwall game which was far more disjointed and where too many didn't have the desire. Watford looked nothing special first half and with more momentum maybe we should have gone into the second half 2-0 up rather than 1-0 but-as Al, bomber and others have already said on numerous times-we simply do not move the ball forward fast enough.

[Albionic68]

I'm not sure you'll want to put yourself through watching it again Omeg....... but it was very definitely 1-1 at halftime chap 😉 .

[Omegstrat6]

I'm not sure you'll want to put yourself through watching it again Omeg....... but it was very definitely 1-1 at halftime chap 😉 .

Quite right-on both accounts 68! 😀 Don't know why I put that as Watford got their equalizer shortly after Price scored and, no, I definitely won't be re-watching it again !