Roy Hodgson
Is that Watford now down, after that result?
Well, I think whether it is or isn’t, we’ve got four games to play. And the most important thing is that we don’t just drift away. For that, the next four games, you know, for the sake of the players, self-esteem, and also for the supporters that we go into the match and be competitive still. Whether we stay up or whatever, is obviously grim, we know that. But for us, the most important thing is that we try and go out and perform, and the results will take care of themselves.
You were in the lead till the 83rd minute. What went wrong?
Well, there’s a massive fear factor here. Which we’ve found since we first come here, particularly a home. And that comes from losing matches. There’s a fear factor at any club when you’re losing lots of matches, which Watford have been doing. I thought today, I thought you could see it at its extreme. First half we were on the front foot, playing in the opposition’s half, creating chances, looking good. Crowd were really good, getting behind us. And we went in at halftime fairly pleased. But I think that players do is that they look at the clock, and you know, they can see that there is roughly 30 minutes to go, they start to drop off a little bit, try to protect the lead. Which we said at halftime was the most important thing that we don’t do, is that we try start sitting back. Because then you allow balls to go into the box a lot easier. And then you’re playing Russian roulette that you can defend them crosses, which we didn’t do. You could see visibly how much we dropped off at the end. And I’m afraid that’s caused us the defeat.
Why didn’t you make any substitutions?
No, we just felt that we wanted to leave the attackers on. We just didn’t feel that the change would be would make any difference. So we kept it as it was in the hope that we could create something going forward. So that’s the reason.
How big of a rebuild does this club need?
Well, I mean, that’s for the owners to decide. I always think in times like this, when you’ve you’ve had a bad defeat, big questions like that, you know, the questions are not easy to answer. You need to sit down once it’s all done and go away and think about it. Which I’m sure the owners will do.
Will you and Roy Hodgson be part of it next season?
Well, I mean, if they asked us we would definitely put in so, but we don’t know anything yet as well. I mean, you know, this situation, we signed to the end of the year, and that was going to be it. So we’re still in that situation.
Does this sum up Watford’s season?
I think it’s summed up the time we’ve been here. It’s definitely a trait that we were very, very nervy. We don’t seem to be able to even put two passes together consistently, which is always a sign of a team that is having a tough time in the division. It’s an unforgiving division. Every week the top teams obviously give you so many problems but even sides like Burnley in the bottom are still very good teams. They’re well organised and they’ve got good individual players. So there’s no let off in the Premier League, you have to really just keep going and if you’re if you’ve been losing it makes it doubly difficult.
What did you think of the defending on the first goal?
Well, I mean, that’s what happens when you if you start dropping off and you don’t get pressure on the ball. I mean, that’s the first thing and that’s, in a sentence, that’s it. I mean, if you start protecting and just protect space instead of going in and getting the ball, then the balls are gonna come in the box. That’s a consequence of trying to defend your lead. The best way to defend a lead is playing the opposition’s box, which we did in the first step. We played in their half, got the ball forward, but you could see us visibly drop off. And then you open Then you’re taking a massive risk.
How is Roy?
He has been a little bit unwell. He’s better. He’s better. He’ll probably be out there Monday. But he’s been a little bit under the weather. But he is better today than he was yesterday. But he just didn’t feel as if he could get up and do this today. But he’s fine, thank you.
Is there anything you could say that might appease the fans or give them some hope for the future going into next season?
Listen, you can appease fans, they see what you’re seeing. So at the end of the season, there will obviously be meetings to address the situation. So that will happen, that will happen. But I do feel sorry for the fans. I think that to keep coming in their numbers that they have, and give the support that they have, particularly today in the first half was fantastic, but it didn’t happen. But, you know, we’re very grateful to him. But to start making excuses to them, I don’t think they would want that either.
Why didn’t the team end the game well, and did you need to make substitutions?
Well, I mean, we could have tried to shut up shop. We could have done that. But it’s not something that we actually like to do. We were hoping that we could persuade them to get out and do it. But no, I mean, it was a decision to keep them on which, you know, was our decision. So we have to live by that.
Did you do anything in preparation that was different before the game?
Oh, yeah, we stayed in the hotel Thursday night, as well as Friday night, just to get the lads together. Obviously, these things work or don’t work.
Will you or Roy get to a point where you might leave before the end of the season?
No, not at all, we’re gonna see through it though. Listen the sides that come up are always going to find it very difficult, because there’s a massive gap now. And people don’t realise the gap. Now, Brentford, managed to do it. And then their task is to do it again next year, which let me tell you is, is a lot easier said than done. But it’s such a massive gap, that you can have all your strategies and everything about what you’re going to do. Unless you are experienced at going into playing the sides that are in the Premier League, week in week out, it’s very difficult. It’s very difficult. So any strategies that were done before the season, if they didn’t know it before now, they certainly know now, that the Premier League is massive, and is getting bigger and better every year. Consequently, the sides that are coming up are finding it difficult.
