Javi Gracia- Watford boss (again)

[weasel]

Anyone notice Les Mes coming out getting involved ?

Yes I mentioned it after the Southampton game. I definitely feel it is tactical and allows our defence to push up higher.

[ActionJackson]

Anyone notice Les Mes coming out getting involved ?

First time I've noticed this nickname. On a scale of 1-10, I give it a top notch.

[Cjay]

How do you refocus minds for the return to the Premier League
I think my players are focused. They know the importance of the points. It's true we are coming from a cup defeat but in my opinion this game was good for us. We did many things well. We were a little bit unlucky and we didnt have composure. I am happy with the way we performed. Now we're focused on Chelsea

Gracia on Chelsea
The confidence we have is with the work we are doing. I respect them a lot. It will be very tough and we have to be ready for that.


Rutter...
It's an option, some asked me about him after the game and it's an option to play with two up front. I am happy with the way he played but I'm not happy with the goal disallowed, I thought it was really soft and after watching I thought it was reallysoft. The circumstances can change the game. We were really close and that's why I'm disappointed, we wasted a good chance to get a result. It's a good option for us to play with two options up front.


Injuries..
You are really concerned about injured players but don't worry, they are in the best hands. I don't like to speak about injured players because I don't want to give information

Is it just fine margins?
It depends on many things, the quality, luck, composure, many things. You have to try to finish well and we have a young team so we have to improve. We have to improve because we need goals. It's true in the last game we had 16 shots and 12 were inside the box. The stats are clear but football is not about stats, you have to improve the stats.



How long will this take?
It depends, sometimes in a few days you can see the team playing in a way you like but with time you can work more things and prepare and give players more options. We are preparing day by day and working ont he next game. They are good students, they learn fast and not only are they good players they have the right attitude.



Potter criticism, how do you handle it?
The only way you change opinions is with good results. In my opinion, Potter is a fantastic manager. I wish all the best for him.


Gracia on beating Chelsea at Watford
I remember it perfectly. It was my second win and my first win at home. I hope this will be the same. It was a tough game, we were a little bit lucky because there was a red card.


Gracia on how quickly the squad has adapted
I want to be honest. When I arrived, I think they worked many times before with other managers and I think they did a great job. You can do what you can do. Of course I tried to give them different options to attack or defend. But you have the time you have and you're limited. With the attitude and quality they have, of course I believe in the team and I think they are playing with a balance. This way I am sure we have more chances to get the results we need


Gracia on progress and a points target...
In my opinion they were together before I came. We changed the dynamic and now we need to keep going. Southampton was only a game. It's difficult to win one point, not one win. We want to continue getting points.

I have one clear idea, we need the next three points and the next points we need them. It doesn't help us to overlook things.


An aggressive start important?
It's important to start aggressive and continue to be aggressive. Stamford Bridge can be very tough. We have to be focused and prepared for the game.


Midfielders dropping deep in between defenders
For these kind of movements, the objective is clear is to try to generate superioty to give players more space and time to provoke something.


How hands on are you in training?
We try to get players to have the information they need to compete. All the exercises are prepared with one objective to feel what in the next game they are going to do, anticipate different situations. Being well prepared with information they need.


Playing with two up front, how does that alter other players' roles?
It doesn't change too much. They have to do the defensive work the same work, not too much. We don't want to deny our offensive mentality. We don't want to limit them


What was Gracia's priority and can he help them improve in front of goal?
My priority was look for the balance they need to be better defending without letting go of our offensive mentality. Sometimes we need experience they don't have.

Finishing is my work. I don't know if I can get it but I have to think I can do it and I have to help the players to improve. We need to create the chances to score the goals we need and after we need to give them the confidence they need. I have to help them during the game with my support and mentally help them.

[Cjay]

Will put this here as well as it is about him.

Thing about this is Tyler Adams (who knows Marsch well and I'm sure has a lot of respect for him) is basically saying what the fans have been saying.

[BGwhite]

I'm liking how he's keeping injuries and selections private, and so he should. He's identified a lack of quality and composure - not rocket science but at least he's actually come out and said it instead of beating around the bush. He'll get used to the s**t luck the more time he spends here.

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[White Riot]

Javi came across very well again.

A humble person with no pretensions.

Like BG, I love the way he gives nothing away.

Short and sweet and to the point, no BS, or philosophy. Love it.

I sincerely hope he can succeed, and that we've unearthed a long term gem.

Very positive force is Javi.

[BGwhite]

At least a point tomorrow and he'll already have built up some credit. A win and he's probably gonna get a road named after him

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[Barlow Boy]

At least a point tomorrow and he'll already have built up some credit. A win and he's probably gonna get a road named after him

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The game is on Saturday BG, don’t want you searching for a stream too early .

Like you, I’m really liking the way he gives nothing away on injuries etc. In fact, as I said elsewhere, I’m really liking him overall.

[BGwhite]

The game is on Saturday BG, don’t want you searching for a stream too early .

Like you, I’m really liking the way he gives nothing away on injuries etc. In fact, as I said elsewhere, I’m really liking him overall.

You're not wrong I thought the week was going too fast !

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[Barlow Boy]

You're not wrong I thought the week was going too fast !

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[Cjay]

Gracia's here - how frustrated?
Yes. disappointed too. After watching the attitude my players had today I can only say I am proud of them. Need to improve many things but if we analyse the game of the first 30, they were better, and dominated all aspects of the game.

We improved after that and the second half was something similar. They had the moments. Goal from a corner and we tried until the end. Team showed character.


Why did you not start well?
We tried to be aggressive from the beginning. True we did not know whether they play with three or four at the back. tried to adjust during the game and we did this well. They played at home and they needed the points. We need time to work the game and to have the confidence with the ball.


Final ball issues?
Big problem is not creating chances and after that. of course, improving the effectiveness to finish better, More clinical, but if we analyse the game the opponent had two or three clear chances, some from set-pieces, but today they scored one and we were not able to score.

Prefer to be calm, work on it. With confidence to finish better next time.


Gnonto and Roca dropped?
Thought it was better for today with two wingers like Cree and Jack. It was muy decision to think about counters, during the game. Expected us to get points during the game from the whole squad.


Have the goals to stay up?
We think we have many options, some players are injured. In the next games. More strikers. The goals are not about the strikers. All the team has to collaborate in scoring


Intend to start Bamford?
On Thursday, I knew he would not be fit


Chelsea gave you a lot of territory?
We did a lot of good things to allow Chelsea to do that. Set-pieces. Corner kicks in different ways. I am sure they needed the points and after not getting good results, they were frightened. I don't know the right word.

[BGwhite]

Bottom line straight from Gracia....
The whole fkn team has to contribute goals not just the fkn strikers ! He knows we have big problems but he also knows we don't have the quality.

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[BreakingTheDuck]

We are team built for high tempo / high press, but we sat back for 70 minutes providing no threat and let Chelsea reset and build up as much as they wanted. Leeds were worse than bad, they were boring. Not a shot on target.

Finally @70 Javi woke up, substituted some fresh legs up front, and we looked dangerous... Chelsea looked unsettled. Perhaps we should not try to press 90 minutes straight as with Marsch/Bielsa, but we aren't equipped to play at a dull slow tempo.

[BradWhite]

Chelsea were there for the taking but we sat back and allow them to dominate us.
When we started to put stuff together in the 2nd half they looked weaker.

We create chances but we are mentally done, we need goals or we don't win and we will go down.

[leedsalex]

We only had one player scoring goals from midfield and he left to play in MLS.

[1964white]

[Cjay]

How do you address the misfiring attack?
I think we need goals. Of course in the last game we didn't have bench options but now we are working with more players and if everything is right and if everything is right we'll have more options for the next game. We always try to prepare the next game with the players we have and I trust the squad.

How important is home form?
It's crucial for us. We know playing with our supporters is always better, they helped us in the last home game they were the difference. I expect the same for the next game. When we play away you can see thousands of people supporting you and I want to thank them, we feel their support. The last home game the atmosphere was what we needed to get the good result.


Thoughts on the squad
I can confirm what I said onmy first day, I can see in every session, the attitude they have and all of them are looking forward to the next game.


Gracia on returning players
They are doing something with the team, some long-term injured players need a process to come back. I expect the best team and the best face, we need it. We are working on trying to improve the things we need to. I see the players motivated.

I think Patrick is an important player for us. I'm focused on helping him to give his best. It's my work and I try to help him.


Chris Armas latest
He's not part of my staff. He's not here and that's maybe something the club can explain better.

I have enough staff, we have people who came with me and then we have Michael, they are working with us day in, day out.


Thoughts on Brighton
I agree, they're one of the teams playing better. They are strong attacking, they always have a good balance. In the games they play they always show their quality, it will be demanding for us but we trust in ourselves and we prepare well

Gnonto - where is he best?
I think it is a good option, the last game against Chelsea he was a second forward and after we changed it and put it on the left. In both positions he can make the difference. His qualites are good for both positions.

The U21s and where is Greenwood's best position?
I love to share the game with young players, they deserve my support as well, they are working hard every day and helping us to be better. I had the chance to see the game and I did it.

If you ask about Sam, I would say ask Sam where he prefers to play. Sometimes I have to choose for the balance of the team, the qualities he has give me different options.


Gracia on his work on finishing
We need to it. We missed chances in the last game but we created chances and that's good. We have to be focused on trying to finish better and this week we did many exercises. The game is different to training and you have to show character and composure. I need to support my players to giv them the confidence they need and I'm sure in the next games you can see the difference.


How do you get the fans involved?
We need the fans and they know it. It's not something abotu this moment or the history, always the fans have been close to this team. We have to try to give them the reward they need in this moment with points and good matches.


Thoughts on Rutter?
He's a young player but he needs time to give the best face. He always try to do the things well and help the team. When we didn't have a number nine, he gave us the chance to play with him knowing he prefers not to play alone. We have a young team, we need to work to improve because we need results as soon as possioble.

We spoke about it but I think the best position for him is to play with two with another number nine.


Is his price tag weighing heavy?
For me as a coach it's a pleasure to work with these type of players. i don't know the price, I just speak about what I see. He is working hard to try and improve and help the team. It's a pleasure for me to have players with that attitude and mentality.


Who was the best finisher in training?
I can't tell you that, it's a secret. All of them try to improve and it's not just about the strikers, it's about all the team to have the balance we need. If we do all these thinsg well we can have some chances in the next game.

[Cjay]

Good of Javi to tell us Rutter isnt a 9.

Why did we buy him then?

Given that is what we needed.

[BGwhite]

Should pop 3-4 in on Saturday with all the new finishing talent he's unearthed...can't wait for the 'secret' to be let loose . Maybe Rodders is pencilled in with Sini & Willy playing wide , alternating between themselves and dragging the defence all over the place allowing Harrison & Aronson to run into the spaces and score at will . Nah , second thoughts...

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[Scoobychief]

Should pop 3-4 in on Saturday with all the new finishing talent he's unearthed...can't wait for the 'secret' to be let loose . Maybe Rodders is pencilled in with Sini & Willy playing wide , alternating between themselves and dragging the defence all over the place allowing Harrison & Aronson to run into the spaces and score at will . Nah , second thoughts...

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Sssshhhh not too loud don't want the opposition to know its a secret.