Goal gifted to Watford by 2 players showing why they need minutes on the pitch to improve.

Fairly nondescript game, Meghoma and THB were the only players who shone.

Quadruple sub brought on the old hands and we started to look a lot better. Sam AA really stood out and a cool headed goal from Stu.

Back to St Mary's and the unbeaten run continues.

COYR

1

Until the subs came on we were awful,as for Alcaraz the worst game from him ever,his problem with passing and hot temper does not help when we’re playing so badly.How on earth Stephens is captain boggles my mind, we will win the replay no doubt if we don’t screw around to much with the team selection.The setup for there free kick was nonexistent and l said to my wife he will score exactly we’re he put it.
Get to play Liverpool next won’t be able to make 9 changes to the team for that one.COYR

1

A step too far resting nine players against a team of Watford’s ability. We were poor beyond words in the first half with no one showing why they should force their way into the first eleven. Alcaraz was awful, frequently giving the ball away, and showed why he’s not a regular starter despite many clamouring for him to play. Holgate had a bit of a nightmare and others struggled too. When we made the quadruple change the whole match changed. We totally dominated from them onwards and certainly deserved the equaliser and came very close to winning the tie. The substitutes made a huge difference as Watford ran out of steam and we looked a completely different side. In the end we rescued things but it was a close call. If we get through the replay Liverpool away will provide a good test of how far we’ve come this season.

2

Gillingham in the League Cup all over again, or could easily have been. Stupid thinking to start with so many changes. Only made sense if he definitely wanted to lose. The players needing game time didn't actually get it in any meaningful sense. We didn't need to 'rest' players - no midweek game last week or this. So play the core of the first team with three or four squad players who will then get real game time in a proper team and thus have their chance to gain confidence and get noticed. What he did instead was hang them out to dry in a team that could easily have lost 3 or 4 nil.

By bringing on the subs he showed that he presumably wanted to get through and now we have what was presumably the worst possible option: a replay. Muddled thinking to say the least.

2