Clevs says earlier games more of a reflection of Watford.
Will the real Watford please stand up.
Is it the confident, cavalier, classy team that looked like it could outperform all expectations by winning the first three games of the season?
Considered opinions: Norwich 4 Watford 1
Save 30% on a 12-month WO website subscription
Or is it the pale, ponderous, problem-ridden team that has taken a point from the last three games and regressed?
“I’d like to say it’s those first few games and I think we’ve shown enough in possession to say that we can be a top team,” said Tom Cleverley.
“When you do commit to that in-possession style then you can’t lose balance going the other way.
“Over the course of 46 games you’ll end up where you end up, and I’m hoping it’ll be a reflection of the first three games rather than the last couple.
“I’ve said before that I break it down into blocks of games and for this block of games we can still achieve our goals.
“Weeks like the week after next ,where we’re playing for nine points in seven days, are real game changers, and we have to respond to this setback and stick together.”
At Norwich, the Hornets looked uncomfortably open and it didn’t need the hosts to do much in order to find gaps and make chances.
“I think when we concede goals there will always be disappointment and a review into every goal and chance we concede,” said the Watford boss.
Norwich 4 Watford 1 – how the game unfolded
‘My biggest test as a coach’ – Cleverley
“We were poor defending crosses last week against Coventry I thought but we got away with it, today we’ve conceded from a couple.
“As a coach, the problem I would rather have to face is how to tighten us up, rather than we don’t look like creating and scoring.
“If there is a positive then I’d rather face that problem than a lack of creativity.”
With three at the back, two attack-minded wing-backs and two midfielders who like to get forward, Watford certainly set up like a team that wants to play on the front foot.
“We wanted to come here, be aggressive and create anxiety for them,” said Cleverley.
“But the start of the game means we can’t do that.
“When I used to play I liked to be high-energy and on the front foot, and I hope my teams can show that – but sometimes you’ll get punished for being open.
“It’s down to me. I create the game plan and the players are carrying it out.
“So it’s absolutely my responsibility when we do look too open.
“I’ll shoulder that and I will work hard to put it right.”
The ease with which Norwich popped the ball into the corners behind the wing-backs meant the Hornets were regularly stretched and prised open.
“We’ve not quite got that balance right yet.
“I never want my team to look like a back five because you just can’t get pressure on the ball high up the pitch.
“But today, yeah, we exposed ourselves a little bit too much down the sides of the pitch.
“My job is absolutely to get the balance of the team right, and today it wasn’t.
“We might have to go tighter away from home if it’s a pattern that we’re doing really well at home and not so well away.
“It might have to be that way, certainly in the first five or 10 minutes of games.
“It’s something we have to review and look at.”
Cleverley is generally a calm figure during games and in general – but not so after the first half.
“I was pretty animated at half-time,” he admitted.
“After the game has happened there’s not much I can put right though, and the players know when we can all do better, me included.
“I’ll be quite measured in my analysis and in my preparation for the next game.”
