Comments on: A life watching Watford hoof the ball forward

By: yu1mixer

yu1mixer — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:29:13 +0000

watford weren’t THAT bad in the first half of last season when they had some flair with young & bouazza. However after young left & king got crocked their season was over,still sheffield utd were the truly boring team of last season.

By: richard b

richard b — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:47:45 +0000

Thanks Graham , an interesting piece. I think all Watford fans have to be realistic in accepting the only times we have had any success , is when we play the long ball under a charismatic organised manager. Whenever we play a more flowing game we have been outplayed. I would much rather have team that is respected and feared for its physicality , than one where other teams came to expect to easily win against.

Unless you have BIG budgets you have to be able to play to system. Sorry !!

By: Graham Fisher

Graham Fisher — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:38:27 +0000

I totally stand corrected in relation to the Lewington years. Off the field they were far from uneventful. I was referring more to the style of play we adopted which was fairly non-descript, although a vast improvement on the pointless passing game adopted under Vialli.

I quite agree that Boothroyd has worked wonders with an average set of players, but the style is just not how I like to see the game played.

I will always support the Hornets, but I just wish we could be a bit more entertaining.

By: Chris Turner

Chris Turner — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:42:30 +0000

Graham, like you I am a WFC ‘lifer’. I began my ’sentence’ in 1959 and I agree with you up to the Taylor second coming. Simon has already picked you up on the ‘uneventful’ Lewington years, and although I can’t say I enjoy our present style I really must offer some perspective and defend Aidie Boothroyd.

For me the most critical event was when we almost went bust in 2002. As you rightly say ‘the club you support is the only thing in life that you can never change’. So what happens when it goes bust? I realised for the first time what a big hole it would leave in my life if Watford had gone bust. Maybe I’m sad but there it is.

So my take on recent history is that I am grateful for every day we survive and for every game we play. And make no mistake about it our survival, along with that of most other clubs hangs by a thread. The examples, big and small are there for all to see. Wimbledon (relegated with us in 2000 don’t forget), Leeds, and of course our ‘friends’ up the M1 Junction 10, to name but a few.

There is a growing dissatisfaction amongst supporters with the club, the manager and several members of the team. I find it distressing and frustrating. Not only have we survived, since 2002 we’ve had a Carling Cup SF, two FA Cup SFs, a play off win, a season in the prem which bettered our first attempt, and which could have been so much worse (see Sunderland and Derby), and now we are in an automatic promotion place and clearly trying to change the way we play. On top of that our finances are more stable and we have a great ground rebuilding plan in progress.

Why are people moaning? What more do they want? It takes time to build a club that has any chance of survival in the Prem, – Reading, Bolton, Wigan, and history is littered with the one hit wonders – Swindon, Bradford, Barnsley.

First and foremost we should be bloody grateful we have a team to watch, and we should learn some patience and giving all the support we can to the manager and the players to get a sustainable promotion – even if it takes several seasons.

By: Brad Barnett

Brad Barnett — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:38:31 +0000

Great piece Graham. Like you I am a Watford fan but for a different reason. My mother’s cousin married Walter Lees, so even being an American I try to keep up with Watford. It was kind of forced into my life, much like your scenario. Hopefully we’ll be able to pull out and salvage promotion, if not…I guess there is always next year.

By: Ahmed Bilal

Ahmed Bilal — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:23:33 +0000

quality piece Graham, loved it.

By: KyleAusGooner

KyleAusGooner — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:09:12 +0000

So, there is a good side to supporting a now second-tier side.

Sorry but you know…

By: Yatler

Yatler — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:29:36 +0000

All fine and dandy Mike, but which team is most likely to play the “long ball” in the premier league…Reading.

By: MikeOD

MikeOD — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:10:06 +0000

Just wanted to agree with Graham’s sentiments. I’ve been watching Watford since ‘77 and there is a big difference between then and now. The football we are seeing under Boothroyd is dull – how many sides do you see kicking the ball into touch from the kick-off like a rugby team? I know we will never be Arsenal, but we could be a Reading with the right approach. Look what they did to the Championship a couple of seasons ago by not being afraid to play in the right way.

By: Simon Wray

Simon Wray — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:58:03 +0000

I wouldn’t call our time under Ray Lewington uneventful.

On the pitch we got to an FA Cup semi final, where we were narrowly beaten by Southampton, and a two legged League Cup semi final where we were narrowly beaten by Stevie Gerrard. Twice.

In addition there were horrendous off-the-pitch matters for Lewington, and the board, to deal with. The club almost disappeared, players took wage cuts/deferred payments, and a supporters trust was established.

Uneventful? I think not.