THANK GOD exciting Norwich are back in the Premier League, eh?
Welcome back everyone. Football has returned, and there is absolutely nothing better. After a somewhat disappointing campaign last year, the break was certainly needed, but now we’re ready to face the pulsating drama, the awful heartache and unbeatable excitement all over again. Us fans are ready...would the players be up to the challenge on the very first day of the season? Graham Potter’s new ideas will take time to develop, and he deserves every chance to cultivate a style and football culture that he believes will be successful. But of course, every single point we can get could be hugely significant to our final league position come May.
Having started a Season Review for last year, unfortunately it was never completed due to work commitments - but this description sitting in my drafts encapsulates that opening day feeling nicely, to Watford away as well:
“The new season, and an away day to kick us off. Because I am a sickening millennial, and one who’d consumed numerous beverages on the train up, opening day excitement overtook me and I found myself posting a series of Instagram stories. Which incidentally, do capture my mood quite well. August sun, everyone in a good mood - without fail, there is always an untouched magic about the first game of any season. I proceeded to drink it all in (Along with quite a few more beverages) and marched clumsily to my seat.”
Copy and paste one year on, some things never change. Weather the only inconsistency; quite intense wind as we approached kick-off. Hopefully won’t affect our slick Potterball passing too much.
One change from the team that edged past Valencia in our final pre-season friendly: Pascal Groß included in the front 3, with the impressive new signing Leandro Trossard making way. Sake, same players as last year, and last year was RUBBISH. No Alireza Jahanbaksh either. It’s like Graham doesn’t even care about our brand value. #PotterOut
Pleasingly, the gigantic Dan Burn kept his spot in the team following the recent arrival of Adam Webster from Bristol City. There was some uncertainty over whether Burn would make way for his far more expensive colleague, but given how well he played over the preseason, the defender surely deserved a chance at PL football. He certainly took his opportunity - looked every bit the part even in such esteemed company alongside Dunk and Duffy.
Underway, and almost immediately you could see concentration and application far exceeded last season’s encounter. The Albion looked sharp, they looked up for it. Looking accomplished in possession, and purposeful when transitioning forward, it wasn’t long before we saw a sight of goal. The coveted accolade of the first shot on target of the Potter era was taken by Jürgen Locadia. Nicely built attack, Burn lashed a shot from outside the area straight at Groß, the ball eventually finding its way out to the right. Another nice interchange between Pascal and Montoya, then a clever cross from the wing-back finds Jürgen, who swivels and volleys at goal...but his effort was held well by Foster in the Watford goal. Nice start.
Potter’s 3-4-3 was undoubtedly causing problems for the home side, who were struggling to get any positive rhythm going. Passive movement, with the Albion showing nice intensity to disturb and press whenever they could. Make no mistake, all the jubilation will surround our incisive attacking play and adventure in the final third - but the defensive side to our game was exemplary. Tenacity and aggression when hunting the ball, Albion forced errors from their opponents on a regular basis. Stephens the pick of the bunch, leading by example in midfield. Absolute General in the centre of the park.
The perfect example of this, the opening goal. Stephens steps forward and intercepts the ball on halfway, then immediately releases Locadia in behind. The forward is positive and darts forward, then lays it back to Stephens as substantial reinforcements arrive. So encouraging to see Albion commit bodies forward, and it didn’t look naive or overly risky. The reward is there, and after 28 minutes Albion took full advantage.
Stephens clipped pass towards Pascal is nodded up but not away, falling straight to the German. My instinct screamed for Groß to leather the ball across goal, but the far more astute playmaker remained ice-cool, calmly side-footing the ball into the six-yard box for the lurking Glenn Murray. What would have surely been a textbook Muzza tap in, if not for the desperate intervention from Abdoulaye Doucouré. The French midfielder got the Seagulls off the mark for the season with a crisp volley past the helpless Foster - no clean sheet heroics for the veteran shot-stopper this time. Pascal wheels away and punches the air in front of the travelling Seagulls support. Get in there.
Albion continue to look comfortable, both March and Montoya finding acres of space out wide when either Duffy or Burn were in possession. Albion fans urged our wing-backs forward, imploring them to stride forward into the open space as the Seagulls switched play effectively. God we look sexy. Viva Potterball.
Couple of chances for Watford, Hughes dragged a shot wide inside the area. Watford work a set-piece well, played back across and nearly turned in by a combination of Dunk & Duffy, scooped away by Ryan. No drama from the resulting corner.
HT. Very promising half, have a deserved lead. We will surely be tested more and more as the game goes on. We’re in for a nervy second period.
One change for Watford, Delefeou making way for Pereyra. Slightly surprising that, but testament to how well Albion have contained the Spaniard. Play restarts, and nearly a disastrous start; Solly willing the ball to drift out but has his pocket picked on the byline. Please no. Femenia picks out Andre Gray, who side-foots the ball past Ryan...but not past Captain Lewis Dunk. Get in there! An immense block from our England international, and brilliant to see the Albion haven’t lost their defensive meanness with the implementation of a more progressive playing style. You can see Shane Duffy is absolutely FURIOUS, at how cheaply we almost conceded. He bloody wants this clean sheet, and so do we. Almost as much satisfaction in watching fabulous, committed defensive play as there is in seeing a goal.
Pressure is beginning to build a little as Watford take a corner short, Pereya trying to trick past March. As if sensing a need to relieve the pressure, Burn absolutely leathers to ball upfield as it breaks free in the box. Ryan bellows for the team to push up.
Soon after, perhaps the game’s most controversial moment. With VAR in play, you know you’re very unlikely to get away with anything untoward. Watford earn a free-kick after Stephens trips Hughes, Pereyra to take. The ball is fizzed towards goal...and blocked by Murray. Pereyra is adamant of wrongdoing, screaming for a policemen - sorry, the referee - to award a penalty. Looking at the replay, it appears Murray was indeed a tad fortunate, hands raised slightly upward protecting himself. Not like him, is it? Ah.
Pressure getting more intense still. Potter watches on...and calls to his bench. A double change, Andone and Maupay on, Murray and Locadia off. Both impressed going forward, Jürgen looking sharp and a willing runner, Murray holding the ball up well and consistently contributing to build-up. Murray has a word with Andone as he leaves the field - making something known to the Romanian. Passing on the wisdom. Exciting to see a proactive approach from our new Head Coach, adding pace and movement will give Watford a completely different problem.
62 seconds later, Potter’s decision is vindicated. What a lovely goal.
March lifts a cross to the back post, nodded away. Montoya reclaims possession, then slots the ball into the path of Davy Pröpper, who jinks out wide. Both Maupay and Andone making electric movements inside the box, but it’s Florin who gets across to turn the ball past Foster at the near post. Brilliant goal, and Andone is absolutely loving it, roaring past the Watford fans in delight and celebrating with our substitutes in the far corner. GET IN THERE.
Play restarts, and you can see a new degree of panic in the Watford ranks. A free-kick is taken short (again) to the frustration of the home fans, it’s worked wide and stood up at the back post but Dawson’s header is comfortably taken by Ryan. Hold on lads, please PLEASE don’t mess this up.
Far, far from it. If the second goal was good, blimey. One of the best team goals of the weekend (And Manchester City put five past West Ham). Goal kick goes to Duffy. Resisting the urge to LAUNCH the ball upfield, the Irishman calmly feeds Pröpper. Then Stephens, Dunk, across to March. Gleeful cheers from the away end as we appear to be knocking the ball around casually. March surveys what is in front of him, and moves the ball to Stephens. To Burn, then to Dunk again.
As Watford relax their press, Dunk senses the opportunity and glides out of defence. Watford still don’t react, so Lewis punishes them ruthlessly; a perfectly timed pass splitting the Hornets’ spine completely, and Maupay is in. The French striker is challenged by the onrushing Ben Foster, but he effortlessly bypasses the keeper’s tame advance and slots the ball home from a tight angle. Absolute dreamland, a gorgeous, gorgeous goal.
Maty Ryan, having started the move, sprints upfield to join the celebration - Albion heading to a first away win on the opening day since Matt Sparrow netted a brace up at Swindon in 2010. Gustavo Poyet at the helm that day, perhaps a similar football revolution may be taking place here with Mr. Graham Potter. Naturally, there shall be more testing spells, but our man has certainly shown himself to have a little bit of magic.
The only incident of note before Craig Pawson brought proceedings to a close was another superb piece of last-ditch defending. A cross from the right bounced down for Dawson to strike, but his powerful drive was blocked smartly on the line by, who else, Lewis Dunk. That is a captain, leading by example and elevating the standard for those around him. Dunk’s emphatic rise as a player has coincided with the rise of our club, he’s been a huge part of our on-field success, make no mistake. And he was never going anywhere. One of our own.
The final stages were filled almost exclusively with Albion stroking the ball around their disgruntled Watford counterparts. An honourable mention also, for Pascal - he absolutely ran his socks off for the entire 90 minutes. I was as surprised as most when Leandro Trossard was omitted from the starting eleven, but it’s impossible to fault the effort and creativity our German Cruyff-turn maestro brought with his performance.
Full time. The home side well beaten, and we’re off to the perfect start. Not just with the result, but the manner of the performance sets the tone for what we want to achieve this season. Our players have ability, and with an injection of confidence and a fresh system, we can see clearly what they are capable of. Excitement levels through the roof. Roll on West Ham.
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