Watford away match thread

[W-S-M Seagull]

8 minutes ago, TV Tom said:

Merry Christmas too you also, let’s hope the new year brings some exciting times

Absolutely hope so. Within touching distance of the play offs now so hopefully the board will crack open the nest egg a little so we can have a real go for it. 

[cidered abroad]

My Man of the Match?

Everyone in the squad, the Coaching team and those great supporters.

Have I missed anyone?

[Lennieb]

Well done lads , great performances across the pitch today , probably shut down a good few blue noses after winning the Portsmouth cup....for me sykesy ,mehmeti and knight shone COYR

[JackofromSanJavier]

15 more points for safety, I reckon!

[The Original OTIB]

1 minute ago, cidered abroad said:

My Man of the Match?

Everyone in the squad, the Coaching team and those great supporters.

Have I missed anyone?

[transfer reader]

5 minutes ago, bexhill reds said:

What part “let’s enjoy just the result” makes you think I need cheering up?

I’m not sure you needed to go with the patronising kid line, but for whatever it’s worth I’m more than happy, but if being a WUM gives you a little ego boost, then fill your petty little boots sunshine, everyone should find their little bit of happiness at this time of year.

I’m going to enjoy 3 wins on the spin and City playing some decent football and a bit of account blocking to remove the irritants.

You were telling me to move on when I've got nothing to move on from.

 

If you don't like me responding in kind then consider your own tone, eh?

[bcfcredandwhite]

What a great set of results against good sides. Today we looked really good. Hungry and playing for each other. 
also, not sitting on a 1 goal lead is VERY refreshing for me. Even at 90 minutes we were looking for the 5th. 
Well done to Liam and the lads - thanks for giving me a very happy Christmas 

[chinapig]

16 minutes ago, kit said:

After the Blackburn game where I thought we looked like we were going backwards, last 3 games we've been getting progressively better. That was really impressive and we were really good value for that today.

It will be typical city to go and lose the next two winnable games, but I thoroughly enjoyed that game and am looking forwards to the next one...

At the start Manning seemed to want to show what a funky young coach he is. Things like playing Sykes as a de facto left wing back, putting him back in his proper position but taking him off when he was our best player because he "had a feeling", dropping TGH.

Now he is making more rational decisions and getting the reward. Well done Liam. Long may it last.

[City Rocker]

13 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

Easy to say after spanking em 1-4 but Watford fans are the first this season to say we are any good and a few predicting us for the play offs 

Usually the comments are 'bang average City' 

To be fair, quite a lot of Leeds fans also said we were the best side they had played so far this season. 

[Will Rollason]

1 hour ago, IAmNick said:

City second (Hoedt OG, thanks to Conway): https://streamin.one/v/614140e1

That's some terrible defending to let Tommy get a cross in. poor bloke knew he Had a city player behind him

[fanjita]

15 minutes ago, Rossi the Robin said:

Special little Cameo mention for Wells. 

Came on, held the ball well, slowed it down,  when we needed to 

Does this often

[brad blit]

In all honesty I think that performance and result (mixed with the last few games) has finally meant I can say a fond farewell to Nige, and welcome Liam with open arms  

Faultless from everyone today! 

[Mr Popodopolous]

1 minute ago, City Rocker said:

To be fair, quite a lot of Leeds fans also said we were the best side they had played so far this season. 

Best opposing side at Elland Road perhaps to be specific but we were quite good there yeah. Despite the injuries.

Edited December 26, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[Silvio Dante]

24 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

Do you think you may have judged him a little early when after 3/4 games you said he had no plan B?

To be fair, he showed no sign of it in any of those games. And it was the first six.

We’re not playing the style that LM tried to enforce on the side. If we were, I’ve no doubt we wouldn’t have won the last three. He dropped a ball by doing what he did to start with and it’s why teams figured us out mid game and he couldn’t change it. There was much excitement in some quarters that we were moving up the possession charts but it’s always been - and always will be - about playing to your squads strengths. In fact, I’m sure I started a thread titled that post Boro!

He may go back to the heavy possession game. But I think he himself would admit he tried to change too much far too quickly. This is really going back to what plan A should always have been.
 

 

[Davefevs]

59 minutes ago, And Its Smith said:

Imagine if we decide not to sign TGH!  Wouldn’t put it past the club despite Ian Gay saying the deal is done. I don’t think it is 

A deal has been agreed with West Brom should we (City) wish to exercise that option - source: Brian Tinnion

(in these cases it is normal for terms to have been agreed with the player too - source: someone in PL recruitment)

I believe Ian Gay (on twitter) is referring to the Adam Murphy signing (not TGH), which appears to be a poorly kept secret.  If you haven’t heard the rumour, you might be the only one!

[And Its Smith]

Manning says we can play better than that. Love that.  High standards 

[The Original OTIB]

Very pleasing, great to have a classic Andi goal. as well. Not long 'til blanket hierarchy interviews. Nothing like good news for visibility.

[And Its Smith]

Just now, Davefevs said:

A deal has been agreed with West Brom should we (City) wish to exercise that option - source: Brian Tinnion

(in these cases it is normal for terms to have been agreed with the player too - source: someone in PL recruitment)

I believe Ian Gay (on twitter) is referring to the Adam Murphy signing (not TGH), which appears to be a poorly kept secret.  If you haven’t heard the rumour, you might be the only one!

I think everyone understands the TGH ‘deal’.  Ian Gay says it’s done. He wasn’t talking about Murphy.  I disagree it’s done. I still reckon it needs to get done. 

[Numero Uno]

This is the first time where the win was achieved with a high degree of control throughout the entire game. Today was a huge step up in performance level imo. They were bang in form going into the game too and individually have very good players. We’ve achieved sod all as it stands but that performance today has to give everyone cause for optimism. Liam needs backing by the Board.

[Markthehorn]

Congratulations.

Well deserved .

Probably the best team we have played at home .

Made us pay badly and even at 3/4-1 kept going .

Impressed with Conway and number 11.

[BCFC Rich]

6 minutes ago, chinapig said:

At the start Manning seemed to want to show what a funky young coach he is. Things like playing Sykes as a de facto left wing back, putting him back in his proper position but taking him off when he was our best player because he "had a feeling", dropping TGH.

Now he is making more rational decisions and getting the reward. Well done Liam. Long may it last.

Pretty sure he played him there once when spring was suspended, A load of people on here thought he was there again and went into meltdown only to find he wasn't at all. We don't exactly have a lot of cover at full-back right now. 

[The Original OTIB]

1 minute ago, Numero Uno said:

This is the first time where the win was achieved with a high degree of control throughout the entire game. Today was a huge step up in performance level imo. They were bang in form going into the game too and individually have very good players. We’ve achieved sod all as it stands but that performance today has to give everyone cause for optimism. Liam needs backing by the Board.

Credit due to all but Watford were surprisingly poor. Take you runs when you can, tougher challenges will surely come. We will have greater squad options by then. I'd still love more runners in the box. Still like to see Sykes central, could be that man.

[INCRED]

7 minutes ago, bcfcredandwhite said:

What a great set of results against good sides. Today we looked really good. Hungry and playing for each other. 
also, not sitting on a 1 goal lead is VERY refreshing for me. Even at 90 minutes we were looking for the 5th. 
Well done to Liam and the lads - thanks for giving me a very happy Christmas 

That’s 3 wins against teams around us competing for a play off spot. Birmingham & Millwall up next but can Maint ball deal with slightly different types of challenges 

We have gone under the radar so far this season but I fear Sky and other channels may start paying a few more visits to our games over the next few months???

Finally, will the board recognise this as an opportunity to bolster the squad in January and give us an injection of added quality/cover?

[lenred]

2 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

This is the first time where the win was achieved with a high degree of control throughout the entire game. Today was a huge step up in performance level imo. They were bang in form going into the game too and individually have very good players. We’ve achieved sod all as it stands but that performance today has to give everyone cause for optimism. Liam needs backing by the Board.

Will be interesting what they do as they clearly said they believe we have the squad to compete as it is.  We shall soon find out I guess!  

[bcfcredandwhite]

10 minutes ago, Will Rollason said:

That's some terrible defending to let Tommy get a cross in. poor bloke knew he Had a city player behind him

I thought that at the time. Their defender had to go for it because there was a city player there waiting for the tap-in. Unfortunately for him it hit the back of his own net. Great for us though!!!
 

[Numero Uno]

3 minutes ago, The Original OTIB said:

Credit due to all but Watford were surprisingly poor. Take you runs when you can, tougher challenges will surely come. We will have greater squad options by then. I'd still love more runners in the box. Still like to see Sykes central, could be that man.

Don’t be fooled by that. We gubbed a very decent side today. This was a game where OUR performance forced them to be poor.

[petehinton]

8 minutes ago, And Its Smith said:

I think everyone understands the TGH ‘deal’.  Ian Gay says it’s done. He wasn’t talking about Murphy.  I disagree it’s done. I still reckon it needs to get done. 

I think it’s as good as done, just a question of if it’s done in Jan or the summer. Heard not too long ago he’s Been looking at places to live in Bristol with his partner. 

[Numero Uno]

3 minutes ago, lenred said:

Will be interesting what they do as they clearly said they believe we have the squad to compete as it is.  We shall soon find out I guess!  

If they do nothing we will fall short and that won’t be Mannings fault.

[cotswoldred2]

1 hour ago, Top Robin said:

City just played one of the best halves of football for years and there are some on here gushing over ex players and other teams scores. FFS start separate topics surely? 

Yes the author is not really City is he?

[chinapig]

8 minutes ago, Will Rollason said:

That's some terrible defending to let Tommy get a cross in. poor bloke knew he Had a city player behind him

I was shocked at how bad Watford's defending was especially down their right side.

This seemed to be a weakness Manning spotted as we overloaded our left side. Nice work if so.