Watford 0–0 Everton: Hodgson misses out on panto villain as new era begins
Whether by design or accident, it was fitting that the first song played at full-time following Watford’s goalless draw with Everton was Altogether Now by The Farm. Five fractious days since relegation was rubber-stamped against Crystal Palace, reparations between club and supporters began in earnest at Vicarage Road on Wednesday evening.
The game itself was instantly forgettable — even a little panto at times, with two comically poor teams lacking the guile or nous to rise above the mediocrity and make the breakthrough. Everton came closest but passed up gilt-edged opportunities to convert from close-range that would surely have confirmed their top-flight status.
Despite fears of boos and hisses for Roy Hodgson, it was Watford old boy Richarlison who was cast as the pantomime villain, spending half the game on the floor and the other half whining about the latest perceived injustice. The Hornets lame-duck boss, who it was confirmed before kickoff will be replaced by Rob Edwards next season, had to settle for the part of evil step-sister.
It’s a role the 74-year-old appeared only to happy to play. Following the right royal shocker at the Palace, Hodgson promised to look to the future in the remaining games.
Yet he clearly felt a heavily rotated XI was lacking a certain something. That something being Craig Cathcart, veteran of more than 200 Watford appearances and someone we can’t possibly need to learn any more about. Regardless, he was introduced five minutes from time in place of winger Samuel Kalu who was making his first Hornets start. It would have been nice to see youngsters Tiago Cukur, 19, Adrian Blake, 16, or Jack Grieves, 17, all named on the bench for the first time. But I gues running the rule over 33-year-old Cathcart was more important
Never change, Roy.
The club’s hierarchy were also looking to the future by shrewdly confirming the appointment of Edwards, 39, in the build-up to the game. In a season of missteps and blunders from all departments, this seemed like a deliberate and well-timed PR ploy.
The announcement took the wind out of supporters’ sails though, in truth, the baying Twitter mob — of which your correspondent will admit to being a card-carrying member since Saturday — is rarely representative of the match-going majority.
So began the first step in building bridges between club and supporters. Whatever Dan Gosling, Ken Sema and co. lack in quality, they make up for in good old-fashioned grit and determination. Inside the first five minutes this rag-tag side showed more togetherness, intent and forward thrust than any side put out by Hodgson during his ill-fated spell which, by the way, has been longer than Claudio Ranieri (14) got, something that surprised me.
Watford didn’t have a shot on target which was less surprising given the starting XI had just four Premier League goals between them this season (Moussa Sissoko and João Pedro both on two). But it mattered not as they grafted, put their bodies on the line and generally made life awkward for a wretched Everton side who ought to have shown greater intent against a third-strong side with nothing to play for.
At full-time they made a conscious effort to applaud the sparse crowd and their appreciation was reciprocated. It might only be the start, but it felt like something.