2 days Ago
Vakoun Bayo’s failure to capitalise on any of the three good chances he had in the second half against Plymouth would have been bad enough, but when it’s the difference between one point and three because the game ends 0-0 then those shortcomings in front of goal are magnified. Tom Cleverley knows he will need to work with Bayo in the days ahead in order to try and pick him up, particularly as with Mamadou Doumbia not back to fitness he has no other No.9 options that have played senior football.
“I’ve got really good experience of doing that, where you have a player who is maybe not at their most confident,” said the Watford boss. “I’ll certainly try and make him as present as he possibly can be, while not over-thinking or worrying about the next chance, or lingering on the chances you’ve missed. “He’s a high-quality striker and if he focusses on his technique and is absolutely present at the time his next chance comes, then that is what I want to try and tap into his mind.
“As footballers we go through these ups and downs, and you’ll see even bigger dips and peaks in form with young players. “Bayo is experienced enough to be able to cope with this patch he’s having, and I would just urge him to be present. “As a striker your next chance is your most important one.
” The return of Kwadwo Baah could tempt Cleverley to try him through the middle, but the head coach has no desire to do so. “No, we tried that earlier in the season and he’s so effective one v one out wide that I feel we’d be taking too much away from his game,” he explained. “Bayo has done enough to be respected at this club – he’s got double figures this season.
“Now he has to focus on finishing the season as well as he can do. “There are no fingers pointed: I don’t want the defensive unit thinking they’re doing their job and the attackers aren’t. “No, we score as a team and we stop goals going in as a team.
” After only having one off-target goal attempt in the first half, the Hornets registered a further 16 after the break. “If we weren’t entering their box or getting into the final third, then that would be a big worry,” said Cleverley. “When you are getting in the box so many times, then finishing practice is certainly something we must do.
“There is work of tapping into the minds of the forward players, and there is also the quality of the players – and at the minute they are just not showing the qualities they have enough in front of goal.”.
