Latest news with #PauloPezzolano
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Luca Kjerrumgaard discusses Nestory Irankunda partnership and a 'signature' goal
Luca Kjerrumgaard relished playing alongside a strike partner during Saturday's 2-1 win against QPR. The Dane was selected alongside Nestory Irankunda in a front two as Paulo Pezzolano picked a 3-5-2 system, with the pair dovetailing nicely during a dominant first half. More: Paulo Pezzolano: 'Luca Kjerrumgaard is going to be a top striker' Kjerrumgaard was left isolated as a lone striker at Charlton last weekend and discussed after this victory the differences between the two setups. He said: "I think in the first game we were a bit too far from each other. We had a lot of long balls and I didn't really have anyone to lay it off to. "In this game we could be more of a threat in behind the defence and we could work with each other. We could really use each other to beat the defence and to help the other guys easily come up. "It was tough at Charlton because it felt like it was one against three all the time. It was better today. "We will see what we do next." Kjerrumgaard enjoyed individual success in the opening 45 minutes, too, bagging his first two Watford goals in front of family and friends who were visiting from Denmark. More: Paulo Pezzolano caught everybody off guard with QPR selection - and it worked a treat He said: "It's great to score, especially at home, because it's our own fans and you feel that excitement. "My uncles and my best friend were here so it couldn't be better timing to score and win. I've had a stressful few weeks sorting everything out and now I can relax and celebrate with my family. Luca Kjerrumgaard scores (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC) "For the first goal, I just had to be there at the right moment. Me and Nestory have a good relationship and as soon as he was gone I knew he would pass me the ball. "For the second, I would say that kind of battle with a defender is something I'm good at. I like to get in at the back of the box, it was one of my signature goals. More: Paulo Pezzolano on QPR win, his change of system and Kwadwo Baah exclusion "For me, though, every goal is nice. I don't appreciate one more than another one. "Everyone is happy and excited that we got this win because it's a good end to the week, but everybody knows this is a process and we have to look forward now."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paulo Pezzolano caught everybody off guard with QPR selection - and it worked a treat
Paulo Pezzolano raised a few eyebrows with his team selection for Watford's 2-1 victory over QPR on Saturday – but surprises may soon become the norm under this adaptable coach. Having talked up 4-3-3 as his favoured formation ahead of the Championship opener against Charlton last week, Pezzolano switched to a back three from the start against the Hoops. More: AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 2-1 Queens Park Rangers Imran Louza was deployed as the fixed midfielder, with Moussa Sissoko and Edo Kayembe finding space wide and Nestory Irankunda given a free role off centre-forward Luca Kjerrumgaard. And, perhaps the biggest headline of all, there was no room in the starting XI for talismanic forward Kwadwo Baah. Luca Kjerrumgaard scores the opener (Image: PA) The shift in approach after just one league game came as a surprise, particularly after there was enough encouragement at The Valley to suggest tweaks rather than wholesale changes were required. But Pezzolano most likely did not consider this change in shape as a drastic change at all. The coach has been clear that finding space on the pitch and reacting to each phase of the game is far more important than the formation on paper. More: Paulo Pezzolano on QPR win, his change of system and Kwadwo Baah exclusion He said last week: "The most important thing is the ability to adapt to the opponent and to the quality of the players you have. "In certain moments of the game the spaces are in different places and you have to create a structure to take advantage of those spaces. "I love 4-3-3 but the main thing is being able to adapt." On Saturday, Watford took advantage of those spaces very nicely during a dominant first half. With no out-and-out wingers in the side, the Hornets were able to disorientate QPR's full-backs by using runs into space from the wider central midfielders and wing-backs. Jeremy Ngakia and Moussa Sissoko caused problems down the right-hand side from the off, the Frenchman teeing up chances for Kjerrumgaard and Edo Kayembe within the first three minutes from that side. While one of Pezzolano's reasons for switching things up was to give his midfield more freedom to attack, another was to "protect the spaces" between his defenders. QPR's array of attacking talent includes Ilias Chair and Karamoko Dembele, neither of whom were able to get too involved in the game. Dembele, in particular, was shackled bar one moment of success against Marc Bola in the second half, a victory for Pezzolano's approach. Watford won the shot count 17-13 and the xG battle 2.06-0.50, showing how little they reduced their visitors to despite the nervy finale. The front two was another win for the system, with the use of Sissoko and Kayembe stretching QPR and creating space for Irankunda to do his thing. The Australian scampered away down the left before teeing up Kjerrumgaard for the first and was a general pest, twisting and turning and showing impressive physique to hold off defenders significantly taller and broader. His positioning also solved one of the key issues from Charlton, where Kjerrumgaard was left far too isolated in the centre-forward position. The Dane spoke after this win about how much he enjoyed playing with a partner on a day when he proved match-winner with a quickfire double. Kwadwo Baah, meanwhile, is some sub to be bringing on when you have the lead on 55 minutes. Had Watford lost this game, the reaction to the omission of Baah from the start may have been very different – but instead the decision paid off nicely. Marc Bola in action (Image: PA) Whether 3-5-2 is the way forward is unclear, particularly with the eventual aim surely to have Baah and Irankunda on the field at the same time, potentially from the off at Swansea next week. But the fact that Pezzolano has us second-guessing his intentions after three matches is just the point. The Uruguayan presents as a thoughtful, pragmatic coach, happy to mix things up and spring a surprise to confuse opposition – and comfortable with the work he has done on the training ground to prepare his team. The next test is forming a gameplan to beat the Swans without Imran Louza, who will be suspended for the trip to South Wales barring a successful appeal of his late red card. But for now, Pezzolano deserves credit for an unlikely selection that worked a treat.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Sensational Louza capable of moment of madness'
To say it was an afternoon of ups and downs for Imran Louza on Saturday may well be an understatement. The Watford midfielder made his 100th appearance for the club against QPR, and for 90 minutes he was absolutely sensational. His ability to dictate the tempo of the game will delight new manager Paulo Pezzolano, while the fans will have enjoyed his Maradona-esque spin on the halfway line, taking out three QPR players in the process. But like Maradona, Louza possesses the occasional moment of this case, a lunging, wayward tackle a couple of minutes before the end resulted in a needless straight red card, leaving his side clinging 2024-25 player of the season may well still leave the club before the window should he stay, expect plenty more of the same, both good and bad.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'The players needed this'
Paulo Pezzolano felt Watford's 2-1 victory against QPR was an important morale-booster for his was the Hornets' first win since Pezzolano took over as head coach this summer, when he replaced Tom Cleverley. "I'm very happy, especially for the players because they needed this," Pezzolano told BBC Three Counties Radio. "You need these victories to sustain the process. What's important to us is to build the process - for the players to understand what we want and how we're going to do it. That's a long process and it's a long season."In the second half, even though we had to go back a little bit, the opponent didn't have clear chances and we could have scored more goals."When we control the game we control the game, but if not then we have to know how to suffer."Watford are away to Swansea next Saturday in their next Championship match.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Match report: Watford 2-1 Queens Park Rangers
Luca Kjerrumgaard's brace was enough to earn Watford a 2-1 win, their first of the season, against QPR Vicarage Road. Having sprung a surprise by leaving out Kwadwo Baah and selecting a 3-5-2 shape, Paulo Pezzolano's side were on the front foot from the off and did the damage in the first half. Kjerrumgaard concerted the excellent Nestory Irankunda's cross to open the scoring on 20 minutes before adding another three minutes later from Imran Louza's delivery. Kieran Morgan pulled a goal back before the break, causing a few second-half jitters, particularly when Imran Louza was sent off in added time. After defending one final corner, though, the hosts held on to collect three points. Watford started the game quickly, Kjerrumgaard heading over and Kayembe forcing a save from 20 yards within five minutes of kick off. The system was causing QPR lots of problems, with Irankunda enjoying the freedom of a central role as Watford created space all over the pitch. The Australian did brilliantly to win a header and tee up Edo Kayembe for a long-range shot that swerved wide but it wasn't long until he produced his first assist for the club. Kayembe clipped the ball into space down the left channel and Irankunda was onto it, racing away from the QPR defence and squaring for Kjerrumgaard to tap home on 20 minutes. Three minutes later, it was two. Irankunda drove Watford up the pitch again and the ball was eventually worked to Louza on the right side of the area, the Moroccan picking out Kjerrumgaard at the back post to head in his second. Imran Louza on the ball (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC) Marc Bola cleared a Sam Field header off the line at the other end but Pezzolano's side continued to enjoy themselves, Louza leading a 4-v-2 break before misplacing his pass and Ngakia firing over from close range after being found by Kayembe. Just as they looked set to be able to pat themselves on the backs after solid first half, however, Morgan crashed in a fine strike from the edge of the box to make things nervy. The second half did not generate the same momentum, with QPR fractionally on top as the game went scrappy. Sam Field headed wide and Rayan Kolli mishit a volley for the visitors, while Pezzolano brought Baah off the bench on 55 minutes. The introduction of Richard Kone as a substitute brought more life to the visitors and the striker soon had a header cleared off the line by Bola. At the other end, Baah went close with two 83rd-minute shots as the Hornets closed in on a first win of the season. QPR continued to push and Louza was sent off in added time as a high boot was punished. The Hornets held on without him, though, to scenes of celebration at Vicarage Road. Watford: Selvik; Abankwah, Keben, Kyprianou; Ngakia, Sissoko, Louza, Kayembe, Bola (Andrews, 74); Kjerrumgaard (Doumbia, 74), Irankunda (Baah, 55) Unused subs: Baxter, Alleyne, Dele-Bashiru, Ince, Vata, Semedo
