Fan's View FAN’S VIEW 2025/26 - WATFORD AWAY

[Paul B]

FAN’S VIEW 2025/26 - WATFORD AWAY

 

[holdsteady]

Well at least I have learnt that it’s Weatherspoon not Weatherspoon’s, only been in 68 of them before realising that (they have a thing on their app to keep track, it’s actually more than that but a couple have shut).

 

[West Oxon U’s]

100 per cent correct about Greg Leigh - seriously under-cooked and struggled at left-back all game. Bad defending for their first goal in my view too.

For all of Sam Long’s ‘battling’ we need a left footer there along side Helik when we play Derby in what is massive game for both clubs.

Watford is a hell hole - a non-descript town - worse than Reading. It really is horrible.

 

[Lost Marbles]

I haven't had much luck in getting to Watford since the kit debacle in 1999. Last season I was invited to a corporate day out in Manchester (an audience with Bryan Robson and Gary Pallister no less) and this season my wife booked a stall at an indoor car boot sale.

My plan was to go to Bushey pre-match which seems to have a plethora of well rated real ale pubs and is walking distance to the ground.

 

[SteMerritt]

Well at least I have learnt that it’s Weatherspoon not Weatherspoon’s

Be prepared to be even more shocked then, it's "JD Wetherspoon". Wetherspoon's is acceptable though, it is a possessive not a plural, as in 'I am going to JD Wetherspoon's pub'

 

[holdsteady]

Be prepared to be even more shocked then, it's "JD Wetherspoon". Wetherspoon's is acceptable though, it is a possessive not a plural, as in 'I am going to JD Wetherspoon's pub'

Where did you learn all this stuff, we were still on Roger Red Hat etc books when I left school.

Should just change the name to Spoon's really, the people have decided.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Was away, so have only seen bits and bobs of the Watford game, so thanks for the informative report.

I do rather agree with your worry that the Bristol City game will turn out to be an anomaly rather than the new standard we play to. After playing decently in patches for the two preceding games, we did well for the whole of that game and it looked as if we were on an upward curve.

But I saw very little in the Sheffield United game to suggest that was true (a pretty even game against a team without a point up until then), we managed no shots on target in a 'watching paint dry' game at QPR and deservedly lost at Watford (who scored two fortunate goals - against our one fortunate goal! - but probably should have scored some of their other opportunities, from what I have seen). The goals (and chances) from open play seem to have almost dried up completely, and we have reverted to the safety-first cross-field passing until the last 10 minutes, when we suddenly realise there might be something to take from the game. I am finding it all a little dull and quite disappointing at the moment - I can stand losing (just about), what I cannot stomach is losing after not really giving it a go. You get the impression (that I am sure cannot be true) that the manager would be happy with a 0-0 draw every game!

 

[holdsteady]

Was away, so have only seen bits and bobs of the Watford game, so thanks for the informative report.

I do rather agree with your worry that the Bristol City game will turn out to be an anomaly rather than the new standard we play to. After playing decently in patches for the two preceding games, we did well for the whole of that game and it looked as if we were on an upward curve.

But I saw very little in the Sheffield United game to suggest that was true (a pretty even game against a team without a point up until then), we managed no shots on target in a 'watching paint dry' game at QPR and deservedly lost at Watford (who scored two fortunate goals - against our one fortunate goal! - but probably should have scored some of their other opportunities, from what I have seen). The goals (and chances) from open play seem to have almost dried up completely, and we have reverted to the safety-first cross-field passing until the last 10 minutes, when we suddenly realise there might be something to take from the game. I am finding it all a little dull and quite disappointing at the moment - I can stand losing (just about), what I cannot stomach is losing after not really giving it a go. You get the impression (that I am sure cannot be true) that the manager would be happy with a 0-0 draw every game!

Its worrying that since playing us they have gone back to what they were before in the next 3 games, losing all 3 while conceding 7 without scoring, it certainly doesn't look like they were a good team and we were unlucky to get them at the time they turned it round, just a poor performance from us.

 

[Stranger]

Wilder would have had them particularly fired up for the game against us. Not just because of his personal connection but because us beating them last season effectively ended their promotion hopes

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Wilder would have had them particularly fired up for the game against us. Not just because of his personal connection but because us beating them last season effectively ended their promotion hopes

The problem then looks like one manager who can fire up a poor team vs a manager who cannot do the same. Although in fact I don't think *either* team looked particularly fired up - just two poor teams separated by one goal, which of course can always happen.