Start with a Chris Powell tunnel jump and end with a last minute winner. That's how to do Saturdays
This lot really don't know when to give up, it's so good to see
Watford were probably better than anyone we faced last season and we more than matched then on what was a pretty even game but with most of the chances falling to us. A good day's work
Good impact from all the subs today too. Perhaps the only downside today was Kelman was a bit quiet. Still nearly scored though and I’m sure we will figure out how to get him involved in the build up more - I remember Godden starting a bit like that last season.
Well, can't argue with that! The 3 points are great but even if we'd drawn that I would have been really encouraged by how good we were on the ball. No aimlessly lumping it up the pitch, no promoted players looking completely out of their depth, just insane effort and the traditional injury time nonsense to come away with a result. New players looked good; Carey offered so much running, Apter didn't see that much of the ball but always looked to create something when he did, Bell was superb, almost impossible to dispossess and played shorter, more incisive passes than Gillesphey's diagonal crosses which was good today given the size of Watford's backline. I was disappointed with Kelman today, he was always going to be dominated physically but he didn't help himself, he stayed too high, kept his back to the defenders and allowed them to step into him every time the ball came up. He needed to drop a bit deeper, lay it off to Carey or Apter then turn and go. I'm sure he'll be told that and improve going forward. Compare his performance to TC who might not always make the right choice on the ball but he makes damn sure he gets on it all game.
What was really nice today as well was looking at the bench and seeing we could bring on Knibbs, Tanto, Leaburn, JRC, Berry and Anderson. I'm used to seeing Chuks, Anderson and nothing. If we keep our players fit and play like that all season we'll be fine.
So glad to see we kept up our intensity until the end. It was a bit of theme last season and will surely serve us well this year if we can keep it up.
Even under pressure, the likes of Ramsey, Edwards and Jones all stood up to it and seemed as comfortable as last year. Long may it continue.
Watford may not be the big boys of the division but it feels like we've set a marker that we'll make it tough for any opposition. Keep that up and hopefully the fluidity and attacking side will fall into place as the season goes on.
Jones fist pumping the away end is my moment of the game/season/century
He must have a bloody long list of opposition fans he wants to gloat over this season... and we seriously thought that he might be tempted by f**king Cardiff.
Got to hand it to Nathan Jones. Leads us to promotion and then secures the best players from league 1, the two lads from Blackpool were very good and knibbs & oloafe are just what we needed. Love this club, love this squad
Apter reminds me of Andy Reid! Wand of a left foot.. looks a good signing! Squad looks strong. Got our subs at the right time. Good start.. championship is such a good league! Good to be back… and Wrexham hahaha
Special shout out to Sonny Carey who absolutely bossed the game, looks a great pick up on a free.
Can see him being very underrated this season after that performance, same with Costello, who I'm surprised didn't make an appearance... Maybe he would have done had we gone 1-0 up sooner.
99 times out of 100, singing the reds are going up and we’re on our way to the Premiership is a pretty dumb thing to do early on in the season and more so when you do it on the first day. Today was the 1 time in a hundred where it’s a timely statement of intent and a warning to any team that thought we’d be a pushover. We may not get there and the season will still be tough but no one is going to find us an easy 3 points
And breathe … I thought we were the better team throughout. The defence were superb. Never looked like being breached. A hairy moment as we entered stoppage time but that’s it really. Kaminski looked assured. The midfield were a solid unit. Carey and Apter .. what can you say. Definitely 2 of the missing pieces of the jigsaw. Doc didn’t have his best game and gave away a needless free kick in a dangerous position. It’s lucky it was a shitty attempt at goal. Thought Kelman had a good game. He kept their defenders busy which opened up space for TC and Carey to run into. Tanto looked a handful when he came on. And Harvey Knibbs, you beauty.
We completely deserved that, the better team for the majority of the game and an absolute stone wall pen turned down (let’s ignore their definitive pen tho 😂) youuuuu redddddsssssss
Did I miss something as to why they were so obsessed with him? They even missed our chance when TC crossed the ball right across the goal.
Wonder if the Media want to get to know him as much as possible, before he's sacked next week. It was the bloke in the suit, just next to the Watford bench that I found odd, no idea who he was.
Comments
moment of the game/season/century
This lot really don't know when to give up, it's so good to see
Watford were probably better than anyone we faced last season and we more than matched then on what was a pretty even game but with most of the chances falling to us. A good day's work
Even under pressure, the likes of Ramsey, Edwards and Jones all stood up to it and seemed as comfortable as last year. Long may it continue.
Watford may not be the big boys of the division but it feels like we've set a marker that we'll make it tough for any opposition. Keep that up and hopefully the fluidity and attacking side will fall into place as the season goes on.
Only grumble was Kelman looked dog shit.
https://x.com/LouisMend/status/1954174030593859708
...maybe a bit too soon, wait for a couple of weeks...🙄