Watford 1–0 Sheffield United: It felt, looked and was different
It always feels different on the first day (or evening). Optimism is rife, the sun is usually out and anything is possible. But this really felt different.
On another day — or in another league — João Pedro’s winner would have been ruled out for offside. On another day, Sheffield Unitedwould have punished a defensive slip and put their gilt-edged first-half chance away.
But we don’t deal in ifs buts and maybes here. So I’m going to pay homage to (read: shamelessly ripoff) the great doyens of this post-match format at BHaPPY this season wherever possible. Here we go…
1. A new era begins in earnest. Heading to Vicarage Road, it was hard to know what to expect. A new manager, new league, new expectations, new kit, and, when the starting XI was announced, no new players.
But this felt different. What happens at the ground is sometimes lost on those who aren’t there. That’s not a criticism of anyone who doesn’t get to games — no fan is ‘better’ than any other. Watching at home on Sky Sports, I can understand not everyone would have got that. But inside Vicarage Road, it was inescapable.
They worked hard. They put a shift in. Christian Kabasele’s fist pump of delight in front of the Lower GT late on was the perfect encapsulation of that. Caring alone doesn’t win games or bigger prizes — and it doesn’t paper over the glaring deficiencies in Kabasele’s display. But it’s a darn good starting point.
As was the (probably) mandated lap of applause at full time. The team lacked a connection with its fans last season. Whether organic or part of a more holistic attempt to mend relations, this was the start of the healing process.
2. Perfect platform for Edwards-ball. Talking of which, we got a glimpse of what a Rob Edwards’ team should look like. High energy, high pressing, pace, and quick transitions. Pedro’s winner was the perfect encapsulation of that.
Was it perfect? Absolutely not.
Was it the finished product? A long way from it.
But we got an indication of what this team can be and where there is room for improvement. Hassane Kamara understood the assignment of a wing-back in this system, getting high, wide, and hugging the right-hand touchline throughout. The prospect of him on the left is an exciting one, once Mario Gaspar is ready and Ethan Laird signs on loan from Manchester United.
Ken Sema, bless him, less so. God loves a trier and he’s certainly that. But he is a strange kind of winger— one that isn’t very quick or tricky and doesn’t really like taking players on. In fact, he really only seems to thrive when putting his body across the full-back at the byline and cutting the ball back. From my vantage point on the halfway line of the Lower GT, he seemed reluctant to attack the box and was encouraged throughout by those around me to demand the ball and be bolder.
A word too for Francisco Sierralta who made his long overdue return to the side and won everything in the air. Or so it felt. He is perfect for that central stopper role in a three.
The forwards (more on them next) were the brightest spot but whether they will all be here come September 1 remains to be seen.
3. The forwards will be the difference this year. It’s not an original thought but the difference between a good season or a bad one will be keeping Emmanuel Dennis and Ismaïla Sarr. Hands up all those who thought they would be starting with Pedro on day one?
The pre-match graphic suggest Pedro would spearhead that front three but, in reality, he dropped in to link midfield and attack with Sarr and Dennis leading the line. The link-up play between the three was a joy; on a different wavelength to those around them. Dennis in particular looked fit, sharp, worked hard, and caused the Blades problems throughout.
We have to enjoy this triumvirate while we can but, as I outlined before, I can see a situation where Sarr remains beyond September 1. The Senegalese plus Pedro, supplemented by Rey Manaj, Vakoun Bayo and possibly another homegrown forward, is not a bad trio.
My only worry was Sarr and Dennis regularly seemed more concerned with doing the fun stuff and making defenders look silly outside the box. That improved in the second period but, as a general point, we have to move the ball quicker in those areas and get players into the box.
4. Time to back Edwards in the market. It was achingly obviously what Watford need after this one and if we can read anything into the squad numbers left blank earlier in the day (3, 4, 7 & 11), Edwards knows too.
The glaring weaknesses were there for all to see. Hopefully, Gino Pozzo, Cristiano Giaretta and, dare I say it, Mogi Bayat, took notice.
Right wing-back seems to be sorted. Whether Gaspar, at 31 and with only 623 league minutes last season, has been signed to play there remains to be seen. Clearly that’s where Laird will fit in. With those two in the building, Kamara can switch to the left and Sema can back him up. Fine.
Left-sided centre-back is the next area to address. We know Samir will leave and he was duly omitted from the matchday squad. Craig Cathcart did well on the left-hand side but it slows play down when he has to check back onto his right foot every time.
A midfielder with some more legs is the next big need. Edo Kayembe probably had his best game in a Watford shirt without setting the world alight. Next to him, Tom Cleverley did what Tom Cleverley does and worked himself into the ground. But he cannot do that for 90 minutes every three days over a 46-game season and his lack of quality in possession is well known. Hopefully, Tom Dele-Bashiru will get plenty of opportunities this season. But even when Imran Louza returns from injury, the midfield is light.
5. The goalkeeping situation. Maduka Okoye was the big absence from the matchday squad which — and I have subsequently been corrected on this — contained 11 non-homegrown players. Age is an irrelevance here, something I had not acknowledged before. The EFL’s so-called Rule of 11 permits only 11 non-homegrown players in any matchday squad.
There has already been debate about the merits of signing a £5million goalkeeper only to make Daniel Bachmann No1. It’s not one I can align with, but signing someone for good money — albeit in January, before our fate was sealed — only to make him the third choice is not a good look. Of course, it could have been injury rather than a preference on Edwards’ part.
Yet I wouldn’t be shocked to see Okoye parked out on loan now in the name of development (read: to save face for all parties) with one of the younger keepers providing back-up for Ben Hamer and Bachmann. Vincent Angelini, for example, is under-21 so does not count in the homegrown tally.