The ACN Match Review 24/25 – Watford (h)

How did we play?

I am no tactics expert, however there’s something I’ve noticed about Hoffball which I rather like: 

Yes. There’s playing out from the back, slick passing, drawing the opposition out. “Going through the lines”. All really good stuff, which is great to see us doing. Yet in the first half, there was also room for Kenny Maclean to smash a clearance straight out for a throw-in when under pressure.

We all love the attacking football etc etc. But sometimes in this division you have to go back to the Alladycian basics. Risk adverse, but otherwise attacking, football that doesn’t do mad foot-shooting stuff for the sake of it? Could catch on.

What was the best bit of the game?

Frankly, this game was a banger. An absolute stormer of football match from start to finish that summed up why the Championship is the best football league in the world. Often tremendous attacking football. Occasional terrible defending. Shots being smashed in from 30 yards out. Shots being blazed wide from one yard out. Accurate balls being pinged onto a square the size of a bar towel. Inaccurate balls being pinged straight over the City Stand roof. Goalkeepers getting injured. Referees getting injured. Substitutes being substituted. This was pure, undiluted, Sky Bet at it’s highest possible street value.

Stick your Swiss System up your arse.

What was the worst bit of the game?

It’s rare that I feel extremely embarrassed from not conceding a goal, but good grief, quite how Watford’s Jebbison managed to not score from one yard after we shambled the defence of a corner midway through the first half, I will never quite know. This was the peak of a very iffy period at the back, and one that could have on another day (specifically, a day without José Córdoba) could have quickly turned even more sour that the one goal conceded.

What was the atmosphere like?

Not withstanding the early kick off, this was a day where everything clicked. Drum, game, Indian summer, a team absolutely up for it. This was a Carrow Road close to its best.

Hero of the match

Football has really done its best to put me off lately. Lawyers being touted like new signings as they walk into courtrooms to defend clubs against charges that they will certainly get away with. The new Champions League format being a backdoor Super League. Lunchtime kick offs in the second tier becoming regular…

And yet when a young Chilean lad thumps the badge in front of the Barclay in genuine passion and excitement over the fact he has scored a goal for our pokey provincial football club, it sends you all tingly. Football is annoying like that. Just when you fall right out with it, it will always, always, find a way back in.

Summary in Five Words

Only one team in yellow.