Our watfordfc correspondent androofrench discusses why last season’s win over Luton at Vicarage Road left him with decidedly mixed feelings
For one glorious 90 minutes there was evidence enough for some hope and belief that the season was about to fire into life.
In the week leading up to the game there was a fear among supporters that the squad would throw in another passionless display like the one that had got them booed off at half-time and full-time at The Den a few days before.Slaven Bilic clearly knew enough about big derby games in England, and he’d made good use of the likes of William Troost-Ekong, Tom Cleverley, Dan Gosling and Dan Bachmann to make sure some of the younger, newer and/or overseas players understood.
And bear in mind, as well as that dreadful night at Millwall only a few days before, other recent results had included the 2-1 home defeat to Swansea where they played Watford off the park, and the pitiful 3-1 surrender at Blackpool where there was more fight among the visiting fans in the stand than there was on the pitch.
Against Luton he looked like a man on a mission, and after the game he referenced that their fans had given him stick the season before. Yet, for so much of the season, Watford corners were a thing of ridicule. There would be pity for the opposition defender stationed nearest the corner taker as his body – most often his shins – was at serious risk of being struck by the ball.There’s a couple of names in the corner routine for that goal which deserve looking at: Gosling and Troost-Ekong.
Both Gosling and Troost-Ekong are in the older and wiser category, and during that Luton game they displayed that. Gosling was flying into tackles all over the place, making runs and getting into Luton faces. He set the tone for the attitude and approach. He led by example. While he could be inconsistent from week to week, and even within games, the Democratic Republic of Congo international was one of the better performers in the first third of the season.Kayembe made 19 Championship starts before the World Cup break, and showed enough to suggest he’ll be handy to have around – if fit – next season.
Watford fans have seen Sarr at his best, but also at his disinterested worst. His tendency to suddenly come alive around internationals breaks was a source of frustration.But to be fair to the quiet and assuming forward, there is little doubt that the club did not help him develop in the way it could have.
The video replay I watched of the game wasn’t the club’s own, so the commentary was neutral. At the end, the commentator said “Watford were superb at times”.That day against Luton the Hornets were magnificent, they won 4-0 with such alacrity and puissance that it rendered any number of Nathan Jones’ post-match excuses utterly pointless.
How could a team that performed so well, when it mattered, when the pressure was on, when pride was at stake and reputations could be won or lost, then spend the rest of the season looking like a slug liberally sprinkled with salt?
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Luton Town could play first Premier League games awayLuton Town is making improvements to Kenilworth Road to comply with Premier League standards.
Read more »
Helping to make Community Trust fit for the future'He gets it, he understands the Trust.' Watford's Community Director explains why the new chair of trustees of WFCTrust is a big asset to the organisation watfordfc
Read more »
Jakarta E-Prix: Gunther beats Dennis to claim second straight FE poleMaserati MSG\u2019s Maximilian Gunther put in a dominant performance to claim pole position for the second Jakarta E-Prix, beating Andretti Formula E rival Jake Dennis to the top spot.
Read more »
Man City stars break into song as Elton John greets them at airport after FA Cup winThe victorious Man City players were given a wonderful homecoming as they touched down back in Manchester by none other than Elton John. That’s right… music legend, and former Watford c…
Read more »