A lunchtime lament

I don’t like lunchtime kick offs. Everything feels wrong. The pre-match ritual is completely thrown out of kilter and by the time the game has ended, I have absolutely no concept of the time or stage of the day. Just awful.

I know I’m not alone. With very rare exceptions, whenever I’ve attended an early kick off, the atmosphere has been flat. It was certainly the case this weekend, with the prospect of Manchester United seemingly not enough to raise the majority of us from our early afternoon malaise. It was uncharacteristically quiet at The Vic and whilst it could have been the cold, apprehension or such acute excitement that noise wasn’t possible, it wasn’t. Like I said, I don’t like lunch time kick offs.

The apparent apathy seemed to spread to the pitch, too. Watford were unusually sluggish and profligate when it possession, although it would be uncharitable not to suggest that this was largely due to the efforts of the visitors, Van Gaal’s men hassling and harrying, shutting down and denying the Hornets any breathing space at all.

The early stages were a difficult watch, although we’re used to that. One of the hallmarks of Watford’s better performances has been the ability to fight their way into games, wresting control of games that have initially looked beyond them. This felt different though and it didn’t come as a shock when Memphis Depay volleyed United ahead after 11 minutes. It was just the second first half goal that the Hornets have conceded, but it was all making me a bit grumpy.

Again, I wasn’t alone. Moans and groans became audible, some demanding a more direct approach, others wanting to keep possession. Some demanded shots on goal, others preferring a more considered approach. It’s perhaps a sign of how well Watford have begun that so many were evidently disappointed with the performance against a team that was heading to the summit of the table, but it all felt a bit unsatisfactory. I just wanted to hit the reset button and start the day all over again.

In a way, that’s what happened. The ineffective Jurado was replaced with Nathan Ake at half time and all of a sudden things looked and felt better. The side had shape, strength and purpose. David de Gea was finally more than a frozen spectator and was called upon to make an incredible save to deny the mercurial Almen Abdi. Game on.

With minutes left on the clock, the Hornets seemed to have earned the point that their second half display deserved. Troy Deeney is becoming accustomed to making headlines, but when he crashed that late penalty past de Gea, he surely had no idea that moments later his intervention would result in the winning goal for United. No blame can be apportioned to Deeney who was excellent throughout, but the slightly depressing end to the game somehow seemed to be a fitting conclusion to what I found to be a disappointing day.

We’d called this one a “free hit”. Admittedly Manchester United were weakened by high profile injuries, but any points gained from this game were always going to be a bonus. The same shouldn’t go for us as fans, though. These are the games that we struggled through the dark days to enjoy, the ones we’ve been waiting for. Of course we should be confident that our team can mix it with the perceived bigger names in the division, but not to the detriment of our support. I felt that much of the negative response to this game was unjustified, and whilst I appreciate the right of the paying fan to voice their opinion whatever it may be, I couldn’t help but be slightly saddened by some of what I heard on Saturday.

There are 38 games in a Premier League season and we’ll expect maximum effort on the pitch for each one. The least we can do is mirror it in the stands - lunchtime kick-off or otherwise.

We’re in this together. Let’s prove we mean it.

Come on you Horns.