Ben Watson

[BryanRoy22]

He's 100% correct when he mentions a manager believing in a player and getting the most out of them because of that.

Sometimes that's all it takes and is why you see some players performing under one manager and underperforming under others.

In terms of younger players or more tricky personalities, that also comes down to man-management, where you need a mixture of empathy and a hard hand.

Only Billy Davies could get the maximum out of McGugan for example. Warnock is the only one I've seen get the maximum out of Adel Taarabt.

 

[MASE]

Definitely the right time to move him on. His contribution last season felt like a real bonus given what played out before that. Helped us with his football brain & ability to break up play, held us back a little going forward with his lack of mobility, wouldn't want to be stretching that for another season.

Give him a framed picture of the city ground & move him out to QPR with all our best wishes, he'll need them, a move under Warburton could kill him off.

 

[Raymondo Ponte']

Kurt Cobain's here now, so not so worried about benjamin.

 

[Harvey]

Kurt Cobain's here now, so not so worried about benjamin.

A real heart shaped box to box player

 

[Tobias]

Kurt Cobain's here now, so not so worried about benjamin.

Smells like team spirit

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

It’d be grim if he lines up against Forest, first match of the season.

Not bothered if he does. Sabri will know all about him and set us up to harry him. Big man like Samba Sow on his arse for 90 minutes he'll make mistakes. He's not got the pace/agility to get away from players quickly nor the strength to hold him off.

He had a decent season, but let's not pretend as the playmaker of our team he was the beating heart of it. We barely controlled possession throughout the season and by the end of the build up play went from Worrall to flanks with Watson completely ignored.

Right time to let him go.

 

[BryanRoy]

He might be ticking himself over from home but I would be amazed if he was ready to play us in the first game.

 

[Harvey]

I'd renew him for another season if he wants it

 

[Redemption]

Not bothered if he does. Sabri will know all about him and set us up to harry him. Big man like Samba Sow on his arse for 90 minutes he'll make mistakes. He's not got the pace/agility to get away from players quickly nor the strength to hold him off.

He had a decent season, but let's not pretend as the playmaker of our team he was the beating heart of it. We barely controlled possession throughout the season and by the end of the build up play went from Worrall to flanks with Watson completely ignored.

Right time to let him go.

We weren't set up to dominate possession. We were set-up to dominate the pattern of play, and Watson was crtical to that working both defensively allowing the opponents into space and in the trying to get the getting the ball flowing in attack. We might not have been too good at it, but that was not down to Watson, who did that job well imho.

I think it's a good time to let him go, but I also wouldn't be concerned if we extended his stay.

 

[Ravi]

We weren't set up to dominate possession. We were set-up to dominate the pattern of play, and Watson was crtical to that working both defensively allowing the opponents into space and in the trying to get the getting the ball flowing in attack. We might not have been too good at it, but that was not down to Watson, who did that job well imho.

I think it's a good time to let him go, but I also wouldn't be concerned if we extended his stay.

Exactly. We weren't set up to dominate possession. We were set up to draw teams out and then hit them rapidly on the counter. Watson was excellent for most of the season, but tiredness inevitably took its toll, because there wasn't anyone else in the squad who could fully replace him.

I'd offer him another contract but I can understand him wanting to move back to London.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

Exactly. We weren't set up to dominate possession. We were set up to draw teams out and then hit them rapidly on the counter.

I'm not convinced this is true. We absolutely did become that team, but earlier on in the season you'd see Watson dropping behind the central defenders, spraying wide passes etc, overlapping full backs. The goal against Fulham away was a good example of what I think Sabri wanted us to become.

But we couldn't do it often enough, and ultimately ended up becoming more defensive - the longer the season went on the more we retreated until the end where we basically offered very little threat going forward whatsoever.

I think Sabri will likely try again for a more possession orientated 4-1-4-1, whilst still using quick counter attacking football alongside. Colback being tasked to get the ball wide from deeper areas.

 

[Steve Stone's Mullet]

I completely agree at the start Sabri wanted more than what we became. He often spoke about the need for confidence, patience and quality on the ball. But it just never materialised, and I think once we got our fingers burnt a couple of times, he decided to put it away and go with what was getting the most success.

I honestly think we'll see a more open style this season. I just hope he can get us going well early on, because he will be under pressure.

 

[Redemption]

even still toward the end of the season, we were good/calm with possession around our own box, and (mostly) patient in getting out of our third, but as soon as we were into the middle third it was more like an uncontrolled explosion that would, all too often, turn the ball over

 

[Ravi]

We were never a team that wanted to dominate possession. Our approach didn't change although our ability to execute did. Whenever we had the ball we would look to attack and put the ball at risk by dribbling or playing forward passes. The goal at Fulham was a good example of us using the ball positively and quickly to attack. Our game was to positively use the ball when we had it, but hope to draw the opposition into areas where we knew we could then hit them. We never tried to keep the ball as a tactic.

 

[Ravi]

I'm not convinced this is true. We absolutely did become that team, but earlier on in the season you'd see Watson dropping behind the central defenders, spraying wide passes etc, overlapping full backs. The goal against Fulham away was a good example of what I think Sabri wanted us to become.

But we couldn't do it often enough, and ultimately ended up becoming more defensive - the longer the season went on the more we retreated until the end where we basically offered very little threat going forward whatsoever.

I think Sabri will likely try again for a more possession orientated 4-1-4-1, whilst still using quick counter attacking football alongside. Colback being tasked to get the ball wide from deeper areas.

A don't see him radically changing his approach. I certainly don't see him suddenly going for a possession based approach - something he's never done so far in his coaching career. He'll go for his tried and tested strong defence/counter attack most of the time, but try to do it better and more consistently.

 

[Frank Clark’s Tash]

Hopefully the same system with better players may yield more attractive football. You can but hope.

 

[BryanRoy22]

I'd renew him for another season if he wants it

Deserves it, but not sure about a captain (or former captain as it might be) sitting on the bench at his age after the career he's had.

Not an ideal scenario, and he's used to being a major player under Lamouchi.

Just not entirely sure how the dynamic would work without Watson feeling underwhelmed in some way.

 

[Harvey]

Deserves it, but not sure about a captain (or former captain as it might be) sitting on the bench at his age after the career he's had.

Not an ideal scenario, and he's used to being a major player under Lamouchi.

Just not entirely sure how the dynamic would work without Watson feeling underwhelmed in some way.

Sorry, did he age fifteen years since June?

He has another full season in him as far as I can see and is a great captain in the middle of the park.

If he's willing to just do a years' extension then it's a massive no-brainer for me

 

[BryanRoy22]

Sorry, did he age fifteen years since June?

He has another full season in him as far as I can see and is a great captain in the middle of the park.

If he's willing to just do a years' extension then it's a massive no-brainer for me

He's 35 years of age and didn't have the legs at 34 years of age. When you get into your 30s, as I can testify myself, every year is just progressive slowing down.

We've suddenly got legs in Colback and Bachirou. Sow is still around. I think that would probably see Watson go down the pecking order.

After last season I think he'd want to continue being a main man in midfield, however I don't believe he'd always make the Forest starting 11, and he's coming towards the end of his career.

He looks like someone who wants to play games. With that in mind, we'd need to make sure he's comfortable missing out, either entirely or occasionally. My feeling is it wouldn't sit well with him.

 

[Frank Clark’s Tash]

He's only going to decline over the coming months. For a team that needs more dynanism in the middle of the park, I'm not sure Watson is the answer.

I imagine he's on a fair whack, so unless he's happy with a big pay cut,I'd let him go.

 

[Harvey]

He's 35 years of age and didn't have the legs at 34 years of age. When you get into your 30s, as I can testify myself, every year is just progressive slowing down.

Yes but has he actually any shown signs of his legs going (and I hate that phrase)

Teddy Sherringham played top level football right up to his 40s

I hate the way we write players off because of their age rather than their actual ability and contribution

 

[Harvey]

I'm not advocating giving him a five year contract, but offering him another year when last season he was one of our best players and he clearly wants to stay is a total no-brainer for me

 

[Timothy Pope]

Yes but has he actually any shown signs of his legs going (and I hate that phrase)

Teddy Sherringham played top level football right up to his 40s

I hate the way we write players off because of their age rather than their actual ability and contribution

Watson was struggling after the restart with 2 games a week. Next season is going to be much the same so I wouldn’t want to rely on him playing every game


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[Harvey]

Watson was struggling after the restart with 2 games a week

Was he?

 

[cms186]

I'm not advocating giving him a five year contract, but offering him another year when last season he was one of our best players and he clearly wants to stay is a total no-brainer for me

I think we didnt offer him another yea, the issue was other teams were offering him two, he did a fine job last season, but was fairly limited, his lack of mobility was telling at times and he seems to have been replaced with the signings of Colback and Bachirou