Ask not what your club can do for you...

It was John F Kennedy that famously said; "Ask not what your Country can do for you, ask what you..." actually forget it. It's more simple than that.

Watford V Palace. 7:45pm. Tonight.

Do all you can to be there.

Once you are there, your job is simple. Do all you can to make as much of a racket as possible. Scream, shout, clap, stamp your feet, wave scarves, whatever. Anything to let them know we are behind them. Let them know we care. Misplaced pass? Forget it. Shout louder. Scuffed shot. No matter. Chant with renewed vigour and they'll get it right.

We often hear about how the crowd can make a difference. Well, tonight, we simply have to make a difference. 

Your club needs you.
Our club needs us.

COME ON YOU HORNS.

The state we're in...

Walsall. Bournemouth. Southend. Swindon. Stockport. Brighton. Huddersfield. Towns and Cities with football clubs. Towns and Cities with football clubs and populations far greater than that of Watford. Further examples including Slough, Telford, York and Luton can’t even muster a Football League team between them.

In the population stakes, Watford (120,960) is sandwiched between Gloucester (123,205) and Rotherham (117,262). Birmingham or Manchester we are not.

Now, if you’ll indulge me, I’m going to list what has happened to Watford FC in the twenty or so years I have been following them. By my calculations, I have experienced the following:

• Four relegations


• Three promotions


• The Division One Championship


• Two successful Play-Off Finals


• Three FA Cup Semi-Finals


• One Carling Cup Semi-Final

Had I been a shade older, you could also count an FA Cup Final and a UEFA Cup campaign. For a town with a population comparable to that of Stockport, our recent history is pretty impressive. Ask fans of the clubs mentioned at the start of this article what they think. I’m sure they will agree.

You should have by now guessed the premise of this piece. Watford is a relatively small town which just so happens to have a football club. A football club that has delivered more excitement, fun and unrefined joy than any fan has a right to expect. Have a look through that list again. Trips to Wembley. Promotions. Europe. Cup Semi Finals. Fans of clubs bigger than ours would kill for just some of the excitement we’ve had.

When you look at the facts, we’ve overachieved. We’ve always had to sell our best players, have existed with small gates and will forever suffer for being near neighbours to the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham. Now, in 2010, nothing has changed, except now we are flat broke. Each month is a financial challenge, meaning holding on to our best players is harder than ever, whilst attracting new high calibre players and staff is almost impossible.

This isn’t news. We’ve known for ages. We’re not in great shape. We’re hanging in there, but it isn’t pretty. We’re not just battling to stay in the Championship, we’re battling to stay afloat.

I’m sure there are things both players and the management wish they had done differently as we have slid down the table from Play-Off outsiders to relegation dog fighters. Hindsight is twenty-twenty after all. Personally though, I’m pretty sure that Malky Mackay is doing the best with what he’s got, and as usual for a Watford Manager, that isn’t much.

Of course fans pay to be entertained and have every right to voice their displeasure when things aren’t going to plan. None of us like losing. It is however worth taking time to remember the bigger picture. We are a club still very much in the depths of a financial crisis. It’s pretty simple - the amount of cash going out far exceeds the amount coming in. How we got there is a different discussion, but like it or not, that is the situation.

If you want to be in a position where the Manager can just go out and buy a replacement for a striker who isn’t scoring or a goalkeeper who is conceding, I suggest you go and support Manchester United or Chelsea. If you want a subs bench awash with experienced game changers and goal poachers, well Arsenal is just up the road. We are a club with a small, inexperienced and young squad and management team. Why? Because we lack ambition? Because we’re content with being “Little old Watford”? Grow up. It’s through necessity. We’re finally cutting our cloth according to our means. Of course it’s painful and the side effects are clear for all to see. No-one wants to be struggling. It’s frustrating, it’s annoying and it’s no fun. But it’s where we are. Deal with it.

It’s almost certain to get worse before it gets better. The summer brings with it contracts that we are unlikely to renew, transfer fees we are unable to turn down and the disappearance of influential loanees. If you think this squad is inexperienced, just wait until next season.

That’s the point though isn’t it. With a bit of luck, at least there will be a next season…

Come on you Horns.

"Watford People"

For a while back there it all seemed a bit dicey. A tax exile in Belize and two Chelsea supporting entrepreneurs were fighting a very public battle for control of my football club. As you will recall it wasn’t pretty, with claims, counterclaims and threats of administration bandied about all to freely. Even GT got a bit hot under the collar. Now I’ll be the first to accept that the bond between fan and football club has changed dramatically since I stood on the family terrace as a starry eyed kid, but never had I felt so detached and disheartened as I did during all that post AGM financial wrangling and brinkmanship.

Watford aren’t alone in being owned by those without a heartfelt interest, but the financially motivated unrest that is in evidence right across the footballing spectrum, from the splendour of Old Trafford to the blood and thunder of Roots Hall, didn’t make it any easier to stomach. This is Watford. A community club. Home of the family terrace. Home of the Junior Hornets. A safe and happy place. Or at least it was...

I’m starting to hope that those days might return.

Having attended the excellent Fans Forum at Vicarage Road last night, it is clear to me that whilst the club isn’t exactly in an enviable position, we’ve got a team of people in charge that are talented, focussed and above all passionate – and in this day and age, that counts for a lot.

I won’t be able to say much about Graham Taylor that hasn’t already been said, but seeing him in full flow last night was for a Watford fan, gratifying,

[caption id="attachment_148" align="alignright" width="265" caption="Yours truly, in the presence of greatness"][/caption]

heart-warming, exciting and encouraging. A true joy. Graham was at pains to explain that becoming Chairman was never originally in his thoughts, and it was with an understandably weary air that he talked us through the events that led to him eventually taking the role. He also left us in no doubt as to the extent of his powers. “I’m not a saviour. I am not a saviour” he proclaimed. Who did he think he was kidding? To Watford fans, whatever happens, GT will always be god.

He was serious though. A lot of water has passed under the Vicarage Road bridge and even Graham Taylor can’t undo a lot of what’s happened. For example, we’re a PLC. If, as Lord Ashcroft desires, the club is sold, the major shareholders (Ashcroft, the Russo brothers and Graham Simpson) will decide who the buyer is. The Board will provide advice, but that is the extent of their influence.

The Board’s hands are tied when it comes to the East Stand too. It was clear last night that the Board share the fans appetite to begin the long overdue

[caption id="attachment_149" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Not great is it?"][/caption]

development of what is nothing more than a dilapidated, dysfunctional mess. It was equally apparent that we haven’t got the money to do it, and without outside help and support we never will. Chief Executive Julian Winter wasn’t throwing in the towel though. Instead Watford are currently seeking “partners” who could help us develop the stand in return for access to the facilities. A simplified description, but you get the idea. You see this is where we should have been anyway, in Partnership. Watford FC gets a new stand; Watford the town gets a new facility. It isn’t rocket science…

Of course other topics were discussed and I have no doubtthese will be covered in greater detail elsewhere. Malky refused to be drawn on contract talks. He and Graham Taylor praised Birmingham City and Martin Taylor for their conduct during the successful completion of his transfer – Malky’s number one target during the transfer window. Graham Taylor made it clear that Elton John is not and will not be coming back as “the money man”. The panel discussed agents and the shady dealings that still go on, the success of our loan dealings and the interesting story surrounding the signing of “Footballs next star” runner up Connor Smith.

The thing I took away from the event was less tangible. It was a feeling. A feeling that at long last, Watford have worked out what has been going so terribly wrong and more importantly, a willingness and desire to start putting it right. There were no wildly optimistic promises, no suggestions of preparing for the Premiership. No nonsense. Instead there was a powerful undertaking to get Watford back on track. To put them back at the heart of the community and back into the hearts of fans who have had to watch from a distance as the club they love lurched from crisis to crisis.

In summing up at the end of the night, Stuart Timperley was quick to praise Malky Mackay, Julian Winter and Graham Taylor, all of whom are experiencing their roles as Manager, Chief Executive and Chairman for the first time. He described them as understanding the challenge and appreciating the Watford way. He described them as “Watford people”.

The club has been in trouble. Is in trouble. The financial strife is just the half of it though. Watford has lost its soul. I’m confident that if nothing else, Graham Taylor and his fellow “Watford people” can at least help us find that again.

Come on you Horns.

Footballing food for thought...

It’s one of the oldest ice breaking exercises known to man. The catalyst for countless pub conversations and fuel for endless idle chit chat in the office. A question that even the most inspirationally challenged dullard should be able to engage with.

“If you could have any four dinner guests – who would they be?”

This question was most recently posed via Twitter, by Football Focus presenter Dan Walker (his choices were Jesus Christ, Delia Smith, Oliver Cromwell and Guy Fawkes). Top of my guest list was, perhaps unsurprisingly, Graham Taylor and this got me thinking about a slightly amended version of the question.

“If you could have four Watford players, past or present for dinner – who would they be?”

If you hadn’t guessed already, you are about to hear my choices.

So, imagine if you will. The table is set. The Great Wall of China Cup (won in 1987 – as if you need reminding) provides the magnificent table centrepiece. The elegant coasters are, upon closer inspection, replica FA Cup runners up medals. A string quartet are performing an orchestral version of Z Cars whilst a dinner suited Harry the Hornet busies himself polishing cutlery and straightening the oil painted portraits of Wilf Rostron and Dave Bamber.

I’m sat proudly at the head of the table supping my 1984 Benskins “Cup Final” Commerative Ale, loking resplendent in my full Solvite sponsored replica kit from '87 when the tranquillity is shattered by Master of Ceremonies, Richard Short.

“The two minute bell has gone, and your guests are in the foyer. Please, let’s raise the roof and give a warm dining room welcome to your first guest…Mr Kenny Jackett”.

It would take a cold hearted character to deny Kenny’s status as a Watford legend. Injury brought his career to a premature end at 28, but before his untimely retirement he managed to squeeze in 337 appearances for Watford and 31 for Wales – his entire playing career was spent at Vicarage Road.

Following the end of his playing days, Kenny continued to have a big part to play at Watford, he was both assistant manager and manager before he was unceremoniously given the boot by our old friend Luca, a sad and unwelcome end to Kenny’s association with the club.

However, simply being a Watford legend isn’t enough to get you into this party. You see, there is a very specific reason that Kenny gets an invite to this exclusive bash. On the evening of Tuesday 24 February 1987 in a home FA Cup tie with Walsall, Kenny Jackett notched the first goal I ever saw Watford score. I’d love to say I remember the goal, a moment etched in my memory, fondly replayed ad nauseum in my mind. Well I don’t and it isn’t. It could have gone in off his elbow for all I know. What I do remember though is the match. I remember the square programme. I remember the dancing, animated pacman-esque characters on the Vicarage Road scoreboard, jumping up and down after each of Watford’s four goals that night (Luther and two from John Barnes completed the scoring). I remember the noise. The floodlights. I remember the fun.

Who knows what would have happened if I hadn’t seen eight goals that night. Would I still have been so drawn to football, to Watford? Would I have wanted to come back again, and again had I not been so richly entertained that night? To be perfectly honest, I think I would have been hooked had the game been 0-0 with not a single memorable moment among the 90. (We’ve had enough of those since…). What is for certain is that Kenny Jackett kick started my 23 year (and counting) love affair with the Hornets that night, and for that reason he is my first guest. Come on in Kenny. Make yourself at home.

Last season I was lucky enough to be at a dinner with Charlie George, scorer of Arsenal’s 1971 FA Cup winning goal. My brother and I chatted to him at length and his stories and insights into the game both then and now were fascinating. With this in mind, I wanted my second guest to be someone who had been there and done it. Someone who has not only played for Watford, but has experienced the full footballing spectrum away from the undeniable glitz and glamour of WD18.

This guy ticks all the boxes. He played over 700 times in the top flight, won the UEFA Cup, appeared over 100 times for his Country and represented them at two World Cups. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Pat Jennings.

Whilst his name instantly conjures up visions of his appearances for Spurs and Arsenal, Pat Jennings started his pro career at Watford in 1963 and was capped for Northern Ireland that same year, making his debut in the same game as a certain George Best. Following a year at Watford in which he played 48 times (every game in the ‘63/’64 season), Jennings was sold to  Tottenham Hotspur for £27,000, where he went on to play 472 times. In 1977 he shocked the footballing world by joining Spurs’ fierce North London rivals, Arsenal. Jennings was as loved at Highbury as he was at White Hart Lane and played 237 times for the Gunners.

Away from the domestic game he received 119 caps for his Country, appeared at the World Cup in ’82 and ’86, and has been honoured by the Queen with an OBE. Jennings even managed to score in the Charity Shield at Wembley.

If he doesn’t have a wealth of good yarns to spin to as a result of all that, then I’m Mick Harford. Come in and take a seat Pat.

Vicarage Road has been home to all sorts of colourful characters down the years, but none can have been as suave, cultured, composed and downright unexpected as my next guest…

I’m sure that even those of us with the roughest of rough edges would agree that a dinner party needs a bit of class. A bit of sophistication. Someone who knows the difference between a Chateau Margaux and a tin of Vimto. Someone that doesn’t use the same cutlery for all three courses.

Very few of us will need reminding of the car crash that was Luca Vialli’s time in charge of Watford. His reign of ineptitude can be summed up neatly with just two words that still haunt fans of Spurs, Celtic and Watford, whilst bringing joy to pretty much everyone else.

Ramon. Vega.

Vialli did do one decent bit of business though. I don’t know how he did it, and I definitely don’t know how much we paid him, but somehow, for one season, Watford boasted a real life AC Milan legend at the heart of their defence.

Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in saying “Benevenuti” to Filippo Galli. True, his time in a yellow shirt was brief (29 appearances) and he was undoubtedly in the twilight of his career, but watching Galli operate was a real privilege.

For those of you who didn’t get to see him, Imagine a tanned Iggy Pop with a face not quite so ravaged by countless years of rock n’ roll based excess. Imagine him in a Watford shirt, casually marshalling the defence, exuding calm and authority, seemingly without breaking into a sweat, and you’ll have a fairly accurate picture of him.

Galli was considered and deliberate, graceful and steely. The archetypal Italian defender, he was utter class. For Watford fans used to defensive talent such as Keith Dublin and Gerard Lavin, being able to feast our eyes on someone that a) could tackle and b) didn’t look prone to slicing the ball into his own net with every attempted clearance was a rare and welcome pleasure indeed.

As well as playing for Watford, Filippo Galli won five Italian Championships, three European Champions Cups, three European Super Cups, and three Italian Super Cups for AC Milan, and in doing so played with some of the greatest names in football. I’m certain he’ll be good value as a dinner guest. Welcome Filippo.

Three down, one to go. The final piece of the jigsaw. It’s a big piece. A player I never saw play, but a name you can’t fail to have heard again and again as you delve into the glorious details surrounding Watford’s rise under Sir Elton and GT.

A player who seems to epitomise all that I hold dear about Watford. Unfashionable, often derided, hard working but ultimately successful. My final invitee is (the original) Ross Jenkins.

Jenkins joined Watford in 1972 and at £30,000 was the then record signing. As has seemed to be the case ever since, the big money signing failed to make an immediate impact. Fast forward to 1975, Jenkins was in the reserves and Watford were relegated to Division 4. Two seasons later, Graham Taylor arrived as Manager, and this is where the fortunes of both club and player improved. Alongside the equally legendary Luther Blissett, Jenkins’ goals helped Watford to two successive promotions.

After two seasons in Division 2, Jenkins left Watford for a brief stint in America before returning to the Watford side that finally won promotion to Division 1.

From what I gather, Jenkins was never the greatest player to watch. He split opinion amongst fans and was almost sold on a number of occasions. Four seasons as top scorer apart, he was never prolific. Watford have had more exciting, skilful performers, players with international caps and worldwide acclaim. Jenkins though, was there during the golden era. That period in Watford history that, despite me not being anywhere near old enough to remember, is the very essence of the Watford football club I know and love. He helped us win promotions. He played in that game against Southampton. He paved the way for those heady days in the top flight – Wembley, Europe. He helped Watford become what they are today.

He’s a Watford legend and he’s my fourth and final guest.

Kenny Jackett, Pat Jennings, Filippo Galli and Ross Jenkins. Between them, they have provided joy and entertainment to not just Watford fans, but the footballing world in general. They have won pretty much every honour there is in the game, and have played with some of the best players the world has ever produced. Just this small list of players, this tiny cross section of Hornets history should serve as a reminder as to how lucky we are to be Watford fans. How lucky we are to have seen the things we’ve seen, and to have been the places we’ve been.

So please, join me in raising a glass to Kenny, Pat, Filippo and Ross and toasting the past, present and future of Watford FC.

Come on You Horns!

Who cares wins...

At the risk of opening by stating the obvious, it isn’t always easy supporting Watford. It isn’t even always fun. Having said that, I count myself lucky to be a Hornet.

We’ve had a brief stint in the limelight, we’ve been in Europe and played at Wembley. Not many fans of clubs our size can say that. What pleases me most of all  is that when all is said and done, we are far, far removed from the Sky Sports generation and all the ghastly hype that goes with it.

Alright, so we’ve had a crack at the big time a couple of times and continue to sail pretty close to the financial wind as a result. However, we have a three sided ground and when asked for their favourite player, most Watford fans would answer Lloyd Doyley. Watching Champions League football from a fifty quid seat we are not.

Occasionally I see Watford fans complaining that we don’t get enough coverage across the media. This has been an oft repeated complaint, and during our pomp in the 80’s, it was made with some justification. Now though, why should we have any coverage apart from that afforded by the Watford Observer and seeing goals on the TV? We are an average Championship club, and quite frankly that’ll do for me.

At our level, there is still just the faintest hint of what football should be like. There are still brick outhouse defenders, awful refereeing decisions and quaint grounds to visit. You can get a ticket. If you were so minded, you could probably get a couple of your heroes to sign your match programme. Who knows, you might beat a bigger opponent in a Cup competition (although judging by the celebrations when Priskin netted against Chelsea last year, simply scoring could be enough…) It’s all pretty straightforward really.

Tuesday night was a prime example. Anyone other than Sheffield United or Watford fans would probably have to have been paid to watch the game. Had they seen the first 20 minutes, they would probably have to be paid again to stop them from leaving. It wasn’t pretty, and Watford’s three goals came as a result of calamitous defending as oppose to breathtaking attacking. It wasn’t a great game or a great spectacle, but then again it didn’t need to be. We don’t, or at least shouldn’t suffer from the illusions of grandeur that seem to inflict much of the footballing world. We don’t need to qualify for the Europa Cup and to then pretend that playing in Europe justifies the ludicrous sums of money paid out in fees and wages. We don’t need to play slick one touch football to keep those football tourists paying £1,000 for a season ticket happy. We don’t have to put up with endless speculation about our mollycoddled, overpaid, undereducated players and their performances on and off the pitch. If our team turns up and wins, that’ll do for us. In fact scrub that. If our team turns up, plays well and loses that’ll usually do too.

I rarely watch Match of the Day any more. I find the whole thing so tiring. The endless analysis. The banal comments from players, managers and pundits. The inevitable highlighting of an awful challenge, constant diving and woeful refereeing decisions. I just don’t need it in my life, no matter what Sky Sports and Andy Gray tells me. I still love football, and I thoroughly enjoyed Manchester Uniteds’ demolition of Arsenal on Sunday. My view isn’t so jaundiced that I can’t recognise and enjoy brilliant football. I just don’t need to be endlessly told it’s brilliant over a Kasabian soundtrack.

Watford V Sheffield United didn’t matter to the wider footballing world. Watford don’t really matter to the wider footballing world and the coverage we get reflects that. But that suits me just fine. Why? Because Watford matter to me.

Football 0 Tennis 1

I reckon I’m about as grown up as I’m going to get. I own my home and I seem to be able to keep my daughter fed and watered. I read a grown up newspaper, I don’t understand what N’Dubz say in their songs  and I struggle with iTunes. I do my own washing. I even tie my own shoes. There is however one thing guaranteed to reduce me to throwing a childish wobbly. I still can’t stand it when Watford lose

Granted, I have mellowed slightly and am now less likely to hurl whatever is in my hand when the bad news breaks against the wall, but let us be clear – following a Hornets defeat, I still get the raging hump. The thing is, there is a knock on effect. After a Watford defeat I can’t tolerate any football. I forego The Football league Show (not a massive sacrifice I grant you) and can’t even bring myself to watch Match of the Day. Sky Sports News is out of bounds, and so are the sports sections of the bulging Sunday papers. Irrational I know, but there you have it.

Anyway, as the majority of you will know, having seemingly dodged a bullet off the pitch, Watford are now enduring a painful time on it – the most recent illustration being the last minute transformation of three points into none at Bloomfield Road. So, with Watford doing their level best to keep me off football, I have had to seek solace elsewhere

Melbourne to be exact.

Home to TV’s” Neighbours”, the world’s first walk through lion enclosure and the birthplace of Ozzie staple vegemite, for two weeks each January Melbourne also plays host to the Australian Open tennis, one of the four “Grand Slams” on the ATP tour. I, like most Brits enjoy Wimbledon every summer, watching on with a familiar resigned sense of amusement as the British entrants invariably fail to make it past the first round. I’ll keep an eye on the grand slams and various other tournaments that Sky Sports deem worthy of screening, but rarely do I afford tennis anything but a fleeting glance. Until now.

Whilst I try to divert my attention from where on this earth Watford are going to get a decent centre back from, I can’t think about football. It’s too painful. I do however need my sporting fix, and tennis has rather unexpectedly proved to fit that bill. The cynics amongst you will already be pointing to the relative success of Andy Murray as the reason for my conversion to tennis fan. Well, not so. As the tournament enters its second week, there have been some great matches, but it is the coverage of these matches that has really captivated me.

I’m lucky enough to be able to receive DAB digital radio in my car and last week, unexcited by any of my usual morning listening (Apologies to Messrs Moyles, Campbell and Ms Fogherty) I flicked over onto Radio 5 Live Sports Xtra. I knew the tennis would be on and was intrigued as to how such a fast moving sport would come across on the radio.

In truth I expected to be moving on through the dial pretty quickly. As it happened, I was late for work as I didn’t want to turn it off…

The commentary team of Jonathan Overend, Vassos Alexander and Alastair Eykyn, backed up my summariser Pat Cash were brilliant. It was pre-match and they were discussing a huge range of interesting subjects - the types of racquet used, training techniques, bits and bobs each of them had picked up from around the tournament. Fascinating stuff, for both the uneducated casual tennis fan and (I assume) those with a more year round commitment to tennis

The conversation was jovial and relaxed, a large dollop humour mixed  with truly insightful comment. I couldn’t help but think of the hours and hours of banal comment I have endured from some so called expert football summarisers, blithely stating the obvious, spewing forth what sadly can only be described as cliché ridden rot.

Back in Melbourne (not me, I was almost in Milton Keynes by now) the commentators were preparing to begin their commentary on Andy Murray’s third round match with Frenchman Florent Serra. Whilst I had enjoyed the build up, I was dubious as to how the team were going to verbally portray such a fast moving game in such a short amount of time.

I needn’t have worried. Jonathan Overend launched into commentary and instantly hit his stride, describing each movement, shot and close call with expert precision. As with a good book, the commentary was able to transport me into the thick of the action, my minds eye seeing each point as clear as if I was watching at home on TV.

As it was, Murray won the game at a canter, having to perform at no more than 60% of his undoubted ability to progress in three sets. The commentary team however were most definitely at 100% and as I clambered out of my car into the cold Milton Keynes morning, my mind was very much still in Melbourne, full of the vivid images so expertly described by Overend et al

As a British sports fan, I have since enjoyed Murray’s subsequent matches on Sports Xtra, but the biggest compliment I can pay to the BBC team in Australia is that I have also tuned in listened to matches featuring players that I had previously had no any interest in whatsoever.

The tennis finishes this weekend, and Watford have a home tie with Swansea. If they win that, my brief dalliance with tennis will be over and I’ll find myself once more submerged in the blanket coverage that the beautiful game enjoys. Nevertheless, if you’re sat next to me at Vicarage Road don’t be surprised to catch me checking for the ATP Tour news.

It’s rare for me to want to spend longer in the car in the morning, but over the past fortnight, with Sports Xtra and my new friends on the wireless there really was nowhere I would rather be. Apart from Melbourne perhaps…

After the Lloyd Mayor's Show...

It’s so often the case. After memorable highs, come instantly forgettable lows.

Producing a performance to follow the extraordinary scenes we witnessed at Vicarage Road on Monday night was always going to be difficult, but I suppose it is a measure of how far this squad of borrowed players, youngsters and journeymen have come under Malky Mackay that Saturday’s home defeat to Derby was as disappointing as it was unexpected.

It was a cold day, and the sticky looking pitch was never going to be conducive to free flowing football. Add into the mix Derby’s hard working, tough tackling game plan and an early Danny Graham miss from distance, and it quickly became apparent that it was going to be one of those days.

Credit to Derby. From the first whistle to the last they didn’t let Watford have any time on the ball, and the previously effective Cleverley and Cowie were shut down time and time again. Derby battled, tackled, huffed and puffed, and whilst they didn’t look like scoring, neither did we.

As the game wore on it occurred to me that Derby were doing to us what we have done to so many other teams in recent years, and why so many opposition fans had derided us and our tactics. Effective, most certainly. Enjoyable to watch? Even an episode of X-Factor would have provided a tempting alternative.

Watford didn’t play well, but we shouldn’t be too downhearted. This was a well organised Derby team, desperate for their first away win. As much as it pains me to say it, Robbie Savage was a picture of experience and know how – marshalling the game from seemingly the same spot on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes. Additional footballing know how and niggle came from Lee Hendrie and the much travelled Paul Dickov. Compare the careers of these guys to those of Lee Hodson, Liam Henderson and Ross Jenkins, and you get an idea of what we are up against in this division.

More often than not, our youngsters have proved up to the task this season, and it is for that reason that I doubt many Hornets fans will have trouble moving on quickly after Saturday’s 0-1 defeat. This Watford team has already given us much to cheer this season, and despite the increasing spectre of financial meltdown off the pitch, on the pitch has in the main (unexpectedly) been a joy to behold.

Speaking of which, I can’t close without mentioning last Monday night. 7 December 2009, or “Lloyd-D Day” as it shall now be known.

Since the news emerged that Adrian Mariappa and Lloyd Doyley had been locked in fierce competition to be the first to break their goalscoring duck, the attention of many Watford fans turned from the duos defensive performances to their chances of scoring at the other end. Aidy Mariappa comfortably beat Lloyd in their personal duel, but since then Watford fans have been collectively willing Doyley on, and this season the performances of the team had allowed him to creep ever closer to his first ever goal.

Well, against QPR, it finally arrived. Described by the Sky commentary as looking as if he had been “fired from a cannon” Lloyd Doyley met Don Cowie’s cross with a thundering header and for a couple of seconds everything stopped. The massed ranks of Hornets fans exchanged looks and cautious smiles, seeking confirmation that what they had just seen was real and not some bizarre optical illusion.

Realisation dawned and then – bedlam.

A celebration of joy, of togetherness. A celebration that will live long in the memory of all that were there, and one that reinforces the good feeling that is back at Vicarage Road. A feeling that we are all in this together and are once again pulling in the same direction. There was genuine affection towards “Lloydhino” from fans and players alike, and the noisy, joyous, quite frankly bonkers celebrations felt like a truly shared moment.

Such moments are infrequent in modern day football, and this was an occasion to savour. I am relieved, proud and delighted to be able to leave you with the refrain…”I was there when Doyley scored!”

John Eustace

It’s not often that an opposition player scoring gives me cause to giggle. I think I had a bit of a chuckle when Heidar scored against England once, and some of the own goals that Keith Dublin scored were incredibly comical. More recently though, Derby’s consolation goal in the last game of last season put a smile on my face. Not because of the quality of the move or the nature of the finish, no, it was the celebration that made me smile.

Many of you will remember that it was our very own John Eustace who scored Derby’s goal that day. It was a fairly meaningless goal, Watford had as good as won the game and both teams were safely ensconced in the middle of the Championship table. John Eustace was pleased to have scored though, and having netted at the Vicarage Road End he ran full pelt towards the Watford faithful in the Rookery, jumped up in the air, planted his feet and raised both arms in celebration. All with a huge, goofy, slightly maniacal grin on his face.

In these days of mind games and arguments, money and moaning, diving and dishonesty, I was delighted to see a bloke playing football, and managing having a bit of fun at the same time. Granted, it was only a small thing, but I noticed it, and I enjoyed it.

What has given me greater pleasure is that John Eustace has since returned to Watford, and has played a significant part in our season to date. He’s been effective, combative, and a consistently impressive performer in our pleasantly surprising season to date. What’s more though, he’s done it in his slightly barmy, unhinged, enjoyable way. Eustace charges round the pitch like a youngster playing his first game on a full pitch, and I’ll grant you some of his challenges can be a bit, ahem, exuberant. But there is never any malice intended when he and a bemused and shaken opponent invariably end up in a crumpled heap on the floor, and I’ll tell you why. Because John Eustace is having fun. He likes playing football. He is enjoying himself, and it shows.

Here is a man who gets very little credit from the fans, has been on the transfer list at his parent club and shunted out on loan, yet still obviously loves his job. The majority of us fans would give pretty much anything to be a professional footballer, and If I  ever did get that opportunity, I like to think I’d embrace each game, each opportunity like John Eustace does.

Sadly, there are fewer and fewer players with which fans can feel any sort of connection, but I can relate to John Eustace. He covers ground for the team, he tackles hard, he passes the ball whilst looking the other way, he shoots, he tries stuff. Most importantly of all though,  he smiles.

Keep smiling John, and we'll keep smiling with you.

We won some, we lost some...

Blimey. So, as the season continues to rumble along, I’m please to say that it is doing so in quite an enjoyable fashion. Since I last populated these pages, I have to concede that Watford have continued to, well, concede, but despite maulings at the hands of Cardiff and West Bromwich Albion, we’re more than holding our own.

An away win against Middlesbrough, a last gasp point at Ipswich, the dismantling of Sheffield Wednesday and the latest goal-scoring return of Heidar against Preston are four excellent examples of why supporting Watford this season is proving to be jolly good fun.

The away win at the Riverside was as unexpected as it was welcome. I can’t have been the only one who kept an eye on proceedings in the North East with slight trepidation, following as it did the home horror show against Cardiff, but Malky’s young charges did us proud, and helped in no small part by heroics from Scott Loach and a determined performance from ex ‘Boro employee Danny Graham, we returned home with our first ever win at the Riverside.

Another tricky away trip followed on the Tuesday, when we faced Roy Keane’s increasingly desperate Ipswich Town. It looked as if we were going to provide Keane with his first win as boss until deep into stoppage time when, of all people, Nathan Ellington smashed home an equaliser. I don’t know about you, but felt this was a big moment for us. We had won unexpectedly at Middlesbrough and had now rescued a game that looked beyond us away from home. It’s moments like these when you realise you have a team that is battling. Working. Trying. As a football fan, I don’t think I can ask for more than that.

There is always a slight worry when you nick late goals that you may have somehow used up your quota of luck. Against Sheffield Wednesday on a memorable Friday (thanks Sky!) night, we needn’t have worried. Thanks to inspired performances by Henri Lansbury and Tom Cleverley, Watford played some of the best football seen at Vicarage Road for some time, and won the game at a canter, 4-1. For heavens sake, Lloyd Doyley almost scored.

Whilst Lansbury and Cleverley understandably grabbed the headlines, our own players also shone, with Mariappa getting on the scoresheet and recent recruits Don Cowie and Danny Graham working their socks off for the cause. This was a good, and highly entertaining all round performance, with the only blemish the dreadful defending for the Owls consolation just before half time.

Watford played some blinding football, zipping the ball around crisply and with purpose, and four goals is the least they deserved. Those of us in the ground and watching live on Sky Sports were richly entertained and it was a fantastic feeling to hear the plaudits that Watford, so often derided as long ball merchants, rightly received. A great performance, one to really savour.

After the Lord Mayors show. I think that’s the best way of describing what happened just a week later at the Hawthorns. Whilst I hope people weren’t letting themselves get too carried away after our fantastic Friday against Wednesday, this result soon put our current place in the grand scheme of things firmly into perspective. I wasn’t at the game, so can’t comment with any great authority, but by all accounts it wasn’t quite as bad as the scoreline suggests, but in my experience very few teams deserve much out of a game that they lose 0-5. We created chances which is encouraging to hear, and perhaps if Danny Graham had converted his chance at 0-2 the day would have panned out differently. He didn’t, and it didn’t.

Whilst we’re on the subject of Danny Graham, I voiced my concern after he missed that wealth of chances against Leicester. Strikers are a funny breed, and they more than any other type of player rely on confidence. His extraordinary barren spell at Carlisle last year came after he had started the season well, and it was with this in mind that I was slightly concerned to see him waste 3 or 4 gilt edged chances. He hasn’t of course scored since.

Bizarrely though, I’m less worried now than I was after that Leicester game. His work rate is phenomenal, and he is clearly enjoying his football. His closing down of goalkeepers and chasing of seemingly lost causes is a joy to behold and he has played a huge part in all that has been impressive about Watford this season. The goals will come again, I’m convinced of that.

So. After a heavy defeat it was going to be interesting to see how we bounced back at home to what I assumed would be a decent PNE side. Our team is full of youngsters and inexperience – a good reaction was important for our season, but did we have any right to expect it? Well, after the first 5 minutes or so, it didn’t look like we were going to get it. Both Watford and Preston seemed incapable of completing a pass, with the ball disappearing out of play and players falling flat on their backsides at an alarming rate. Not a good start to the match, and indeed for a while there I was transported back to the meaningless drudgery of our games in the mid 90’s…However Heidar was back in the starting XI and as we all know by now, things are never dull for long when he is involved. 12 minutes in and the puffin eater directed a trademark header into the back of the net, and hey presto, we were up and running.

If Heidar’s goal was a thing of welcome familiarity, the 2^nd was a thing of absolute beauty. Henri Lansbury and Tom Cleverley combined to devastating effect, Lansbury easing away from several hapless PNE defenders before sliding a ball through to his fellow loanee who slid the ball home with precision and breathtaking ease. It’s stating the obvious to say that these boys are a cut above the rest of the squad, but they are clearly enjoying being part of this team, and our permanent players are clearly benefiting from their presence. Chants of “Sign him up” as Cleverley left the field are clearly wildly and unreasonably optimistic, but we should definitely make the most of him and Lansbury whilst we have them. We’ll be seeing more of them, no doubt, but it is likely to be in the Champions League, not the Championship.

The game ended 2-0 and we had our bounceback. We had our proof that this team of ours isn’t going to collapse and give in at the slightest hiccup, even if that hiccup did come in the form of a 5-0 thumping. They picked themselves up, dusted themselves down and made sure that this time it was they that would dish out the beating.

Tim Lovejoy famously coined the phrase bouncebackability. As Watford fans we’ve had to have it in abundance. It’s nice to see the team now have it too.

Watford 0 Cardiff City 4 - 3/10/2009

"Uncle Mike, why don't they just, ummm,  shoot?"

I took my 8 year old nephew to Watford on Saturday, and whilst I could answer most of his questions adequately enough, I must admit his query about shooting struck me as being quite pertinent.

Whilst it is fairly obvious that our record of 10 goals conceded in our last 3 home games is causing us increasing difficulties, our reluctance to shoot has been equally evident against Leicester, Coventry and most recently in this horror show against Cardiff.

The sole encouraging factor is that wer are creating space and opportunities in which we would expect our strikers to shoot. I guess that's half the battle. Oh alright then, a quarter of the battle, but we definitely have been playing some decent football in the final third, play that deserves more output. More shots. And perhaps even, whisper it, more goals...

For those still in any doubt, we were well beaten by a strong and competent Cardiff  side, and not even the most hardened, partisan wearer of yellow tinted specs could argue otherwise.

Anyway, you've probably gathered that all this talk about attempts on goal  is merely a futile effort to avoid talking about what is going on at the other end of the pitch. We're now shipping goals at an alarming and potentially fatal rate. Admittedly we have had a tough week, with bizarre injuries and illness taking their terrible toll on our already thin squad, but the fact that the aggregate score over the last 3 home games is now 5-10 in favour of the visitors doesn't bode particularly well.

I have used these pages to share my enthusiasm and excitment about the young players coming through and playing their part this year, and I maintain that the future looks bright. However, the past couple of weeks have left us in no doubt that we will need to work hard and stick together to ensure we make it to that future with our Championship status intact.

I'm under no illusion as to our sole objective this year, and you shouldn't be either. We need to stay up. Nothing more, most certainly nothing less. Failure to achieve this single goal would be catastrophic to what is clearly a rebuilding process both on and off the pitch.

We have a team containing some decent players, some good loanees and more than a sprinkling of academy/youth team graduates. We have a management team in place who care about the club, and at Board level we seem to be as stable now as we have been for quite some time. This is a football club, a football team, that we should be able to get behind. A team that we can love, support and identify with. It's going to be a tough season - they always are, but supporting a club like Watford is a two way process. You get out what you put in. If you turn up at The Vic expecting free flowing football, win after win, and a constant influx of high profile players - you're going to be disappointed. If you understand where we as a club are, and what our objectives should be, you'll (more ofthen than not) enjoy it.

Obviously there will be poor days in the office, and Saturday was undoubtedly one such example. I think my My nephew summed it up pretty well with another little gem. "Uncle Mike, I do love Watford, but they haven't been very good today have they? When can I come again?"

And Graham must score...

Sometimes you just know.

It should have become apparent that we'd be in for a tough night when young William Hoskins defied physics, gravity and every other logic defining law to spoon the ball miles over the Coventry City bar from barely a yard.

A slightly more impressive effort from the ex Rotherham man - a smart backheel from a corner - elicited more groans from the Rookery end (which reminds me, follow www.twitter.com/rookeryend for interesting WFC "tweets") and when Danny Graham missed wonderful chances either side of half time, you just knew there wasn't going to be a happy ending.

And of course there wasn't. We ended up beaten 2-3 by a very average* C0ventry, despite creating enough clear cut chances to win 3 games.  Initially, the overriding emotion was  frustration. Having managed to battle back from a goal down (again), it was disappointing that we ended up with nothing, and as I blathered on at my long suffering brother, all I could see was three points dropped and a season rapidly turning into what we all feared it might.

By the time I'd got to the car however, I was in more reflective mood.

The Watford FC class of 2009/10 isn't exactly bursting at the seams in terms of numbers or experience, and when the squad was depleted further by suspension, illness and random injury (has anyone other than our American hero ever cut their eye with a contact lens?!) we looked mighty thin on the ground.

The result was that we saw the future. Admittedly Mackay's hand was forced, but Hodson, Bennett, Henderson and Oshodi all featured on Tuesday night, and have to my knowledge all come through the Watford youth ranks. So have more established, experienced names - Doyley, Mariappa, Richard Lee. We should be proud and excited by that.

Our club has gone through an exciting yet turbulent decade, with two near-fatal dalliances with wreckless spending.  Whilst we struggle to right the good ship Watford, the emergence of these youngsters prove that somewhere along the line, our club is operating as it should be. Perhaps better than it should be - how many other clubs can boast such a successful conversion rate of their academy players to the 1st team?

Alright, so Liam henderson should have scored at the end, and young Eddie Ashodi looked a bit tentative. Who cares. With a name like that he can do no wrong. These are our kids, our future. And they are a welcome sign that there will continue to be an our Watford.

*Nothing average about Clinton Morrison though. He has to be the most sulky footballer I have ever seen. If he chanelled half as much energy into his game as he does at hurling abuse at his team-mates, his name might appear on the scoresheet a bit more. What a clown. Entertaining to watch though.

Dunne Deal

So, the transfer window has closed. Tommy Smith has gone to Portsmouth for a well deserved crack at the top flight, Jobi McAnuff has followed Rodgers to Reading, whilst John-Joe O'Toole (rejoining a certain A.Boothroyd Esq at Colchester) and Mike Williamson have also left stage right.

The Tommy Smith episode, whilst highly publicised was the definitive illustration of how a modern footballer can conduct themself during negotiations. Mike Williamson threw a bit of a hissy fit and eventually got his South coast move too, but I can't help feeling that we did some good business there. Financially at least.

O'Toole and McAnuff I am sure we can do without, but we do now have a thin looking squad, no surprise to most, and survival is clearly the primary goal this term. However, with with the finances the sales have generated we can (hopefully) look forward to the future on something approaching a sound financial footing.

So, all in all a relatively quiet end to the transfer window for Watford, and it was the goings on a couple of hundred miles away from Vicarage Road that awoke me from my deadline day slumber.

At Eastlands, the home of Manchester City, Richard Dunne was negotiating his move to Aston Villa. The media reported this as a done deal at several times throughout the day, but it soon became clear there was a delay. Nothing out of the ordinary I thought, he is probably doing his exit interview and working out how many days leave he is owed. Not so...

Testimonial is a word not often used in football these days. In fact, I'd be interested to hear who the last top flight professional footballer to have one was. Anyway, for those of you unaware, a testimonial is an event organised to raise money for a player who has been at the same club for 10 years. It's only fair - you are a loyal servant for a decade, you deserve a bit of a thank you. Even if you do earn twice the average annual salary of the working population every week.

Anyway, non Manchester City fans can be forgiven for not knowing that Richard Dunne has been playing for Manchester City for nine years. That's right, next year would have been his tenth, qualifying him for a  testimonial. Now it isn't hard to see why a money spinning testimonial is attractive, Premiership players can expect to earn a reported million quid. Not a bad golden handshake. It sure beats a carriage clock.

So, you can see poor Richard's dilemma. On one hand, one more year with City and he gets his testimonial and pocketful of lovely loot to say thanks for your loyalty. On the other hand he wants to join Aston Villa on a lucrative contract and trouser a pocketful of lovely loot to say thanks for joining us.

You can picture the scene. Richard Dunne sat alone in his front room, barely noticing Sky Sports News blaring out of his 100" plasma as he mulls it over in his tortured mind - "Testimonial or new deal, testimonial or new deal..." His face is contorted in confusion until BINGO! - he has his lightbulb moment. "I know what I'll do..." Richard smiles to himself. "I'll demand the money from the testimonial that I would have next year, and then leave for Villa! Everyone's a winner"

And that ladies and gentlemen was the delay. Richard Dunne was holding out for a payment of money he would have earned from his testimonial had he stayed at City for another year. Money he would have earned for his loyalty, for committing ten years to the club. Not nine. Ten. Now I'm all for making sure you get paid what you are due, but come on...

I have no idea whether or not City paid up, but the deal has now through, so I suspect a deal was done and hard up Dicky Dunne got his golden handshake whilst Villa got their man. Now if you'll excuse me I'm off to hand in my resignation and ask for next years' salary in advance.

A night in the life of football fan.

There is generally one thing you can be sure of on a busy night of sport. Contrasting emotions. Yesterday was no different.

Come with me if you will through an evening in the muddled mind of yours truly...

Time: 5:25 Emotion: Disappointment. The radio reports that England ladies have gone 2-1 down in their Euro 2009 curtain raiser. They are also down to 10 after a dodgy dive in the 1st half from the Italian striker. Who says the ladies aren't as good as the men? They can con the refs with the best of them...England go on to l0se the game.

I think it is also worth noting the flippant way in which this game was covered. Tired cliche's about the women's game were lamely trotted out and the piece descended into pathetic laddish jokes. Having said that, I guess I get what I deserve if I listen to talkSPORT.

Time: 6:10pm Emotion: Excitement. I'm home, I see my 8 month old daughter for the first time since 7:30am and Watford are playing tonight. I know I am supposed to be all grown up and sensible, but nothing can replace the sense of anticipation that rumbles and grows in your belly ahead of your team kicking off. What will the team be? Who will score? What will happen? No-one ruddy knows and it's brilliant! Even guessing the attendance is a cause for childlike excitement...

Time: 7:14 Emotion: Bewilderment. BBC 3 Counties Radio draw my attention to the fact that Watford have accepted a bid for Tommy Smith from Portsmouth. Just when this saga looked like reaching a conclusion, there is yet another twist, and for Tommy all roads lead to the South Coast and another tilt at the Premiership.

I have to confess, this news put a broad grin on my face. I have nothing against Reading fans, in fact I feel hugely sorry for them - this episode must have been annoying for them as it has been us, but I still have minor issues with their boss.

If I'm honest, the thought of the assembled local press watching on whilst Brendan Rodgers smile slowly slips from his face as he hears the news "Tommy Smith is having a medical at Portsmouth..." fills me with mischievous delight.

Time: 7:20 Emotion: Sadness.News filters through about "large scale unrest" ahead of the West Ham United V Millwall cup tie. Not entirely unexpected, but saddening nonetheless. I have a daughter that I want to take to football soon. We don't need this.

Time 8:30 Emotion: Cautious Optimism. Half time at Elland Road and Watford are behind. 1-0. The commentary suggests we are playing well though, and for once, I am not completely resigned to defeat. You see, for all my excitment before a game, once it gets underway I am the most frightful pessimist. Those who have read Adrian Chiles book will know what I mean - I'm just like him. I think it was the great Graham Taylor who once summed up our plight so perfectly - "For a football fan, there is nothing so dangerous as hope..."

Time: 9:27 Emotion: Pure unadulterated delight. Watford youngster Marvin Sordell equalises for the mighty Hornets. Anyone watching at this time would have been treated to the sight of me dancing round the living room and kitchen in an excited style that can only be described as a cross between punk and breakdancing. One of these days I'll put my back out. It will be worth it though.

The game goes to extra time and my long suffering girlfriend just about manages to conceal her annoyance that she now has to endure another 30 minutes of me prowling around like a cat on a hot tin roof.

Time: 10:00 Emotion: Disgust. Footage from the West Ham game starts to appear on the TV. Deeply unpleasant both inside and outside the ground. My mind starts to wander as to how the media will portray this. The obvious link will be to any harm done to our 2018 bid.

In many ways the media coverage of events like this are as unsavoury as the unrest itself, but we really can't avoid the fact that what was unfolding was pretty ugly and totally inexcusable. Have these people no shame?

On the plus side, there seems to be some pretty clear footage, so tracking down many of the protagonists should be fairly straightforward.

Time: 10:10 Emotion: Despondancy. Leeds United grab a second goal in extra time, and there is no way back for Watford. Leeds 2 Watford 1, and we are out of the Carling Cup. A competition we were unliklely to win, but a loss is a loss, and every onse hurts. The excitment of earlier in the evening is a dim and distant memory.

So, my evening  started with disappointment and ended with despondancy. Looking at it that way, it may be hard to see why so many of us devote so many of our emotional and financial resources to following sport.  However, as we all know, if someone has to ask the question  "why do you do it? What's the attraction?" then they are unlikely to ever fully understand the answer.

Tommy Smith and other animals

I'm a bit older now. A bit calmer. I don't swear quite as much at match officials, and my goal celebrations are slightly less enthusiastic than they once were. Even Neil Warnock doesn't wind me up that much any more.

So, with my new found sense of calm, I have been quite proud of the sanguine way in which I have accepted Watford's current financial plight. Despite the never ending tales of black holes in accounts and player departures, I have continually been able to find the positives and maintain some sort of optimistic excitment.

Even now, as the Tommy Smith saga looks to be drawing to a long overdue conclusion (1.8million toReading is the latest) I am hopeful that we'll be able to plug the gap somehow.

It's the thought of his unveileing at the Madjeski Stadium press conference that sees me regress into an angry young man. The thought of his smug face, grinning for the cameras as he puts his arm round our Tommy Smith.

I don't blame Tommy, he'll be on more cash, and I don't blame the board as we need the money too. It's just a shame it had to be Reading. It's a shame it had to be him.After considering this saga though, it occurs to me that in this age of super rich footballers, distant, aloof and detached from both reality and us fans,  it isn't actually that hard to keep the public on your side.

Take our friend Mr Rodgers. His comments before leaving for Reading were just hopeless. His talk of integrity blown wide apart by his tastelessly hasty departure up the M4. At best his words were ill advised, at worst they made him a bare faced liar. Watford fans, while not entriely surprised, rightly seethe.

Weeks later he opens his mouth again, to proclaim that "Tommy wants to join us". Presumably it was only after this quote hit the press he realised he isn't allowed to talk to contracted players without permission.

Two examples of opening mouth before engaging brain.

Now we all know that Smith has been the subject of transfer speculation for some time now. But what has Tommy done? Tried to engineer a move through the media? No. Discussed it in public? No. He has kept quiet, and it is for this reason that when he returns to Vicarage Road in a reading shirt he'll get a standing ovation. Rodgers thought he was clever enough to open his mouth and conduct his business through the media. Something tells me he will be afforded an ever so slightly different reception.

Tommy will get the new me.  I am most definitely saving a bit of the old me for Brendan Rodgers.

Into the great unknown. Again...

So there we have it. Aidy is no more.

The instant reaction is shock, despite being a supporter for over 20 years, sacking a manager still doesn't seem like a very Watford-like thing to do. It feels like one of those things that happens to other clubs...

Anyway, the dust has settled a bit, we know who is going to be in charge for the immediate future and I've had a chance to give it some sensible thought. So what do I reckon? Well...

Firstly, if you look back over the past 12 months, it has been pretty horrible. The majority of last season was utterly woeful, both in terms of entertainment and results. This year has been more exciting than many of us anticipated, but in the cold light of day, the results haven't been up to scratch, and 12 wins in almost 50 games tells it's own story.

Secondly, in the cold light of day, a lot of Aidy's signings haven't been up to scratch. They have ranged from the rubbish (Ellington) to the bizarre (Collins John) to the illegal (Junior) and with a few notable exceptions the players brought in have left a lot to be desired.

I have a huge amount of sympathy in this area, as replacing Ashley Young, Hameur Bouazza and Marlon King wasn't going to be hard - it was impossible. Latterly he has found his hands tied behind his back when it comes to transfers due to financial constraints, but how much his earlier errors in the transfer market contributed to our lack of cash, I guess we'll never know.

So, it is pretty apparent that Aidy has made mistakes and has struggled. HOWEVER...

This season we have been absolutely decimated by injury. We have been unable to keep the same side for any length of time, and quite frankly it shows, especially in our defensive displays. But we are still in there and fighting - we are scoring goals (against all odds!) and haven't been outplayed this season. we haven't been that bad at all...and certainly haven't rolled over like we did so horrifically last year. This told me that Aidy was till in there scrapping, and the players were too. He hasn't exactly made a silk purse our of a sows ear, but we ALL knew that this year was going to be very tough, and so it has proved. I was personally confident that Aidy was the man to pull us through...

The Board disagreed though and now all eyes must turn to potential replacements. Who are we going to get that is better equipped than Boothroyd? Who are we going to get that is willing to come to a club that is;

A) For sale
B) Flat broke
C) In a relegation scrap?

I have a feeling that the list will be extremely limited, and those mentioning the likes of Curbishley and Allardyce are quite frankly in dreamland.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Malky given the job - he knows the players and the club, and above all else will be cheap which I assume will be one of the main criteria.

So to sum up, I think this decision is a massive gamble. On the one hand, Boothroyd has made mistakes and the results over the last 12 months have been undeniably poor. However the timing surprises me. If we get this wrong now, we are in deep, deep trouble. Relegation whilst in this perilous financial state would be catastrophic. Look at those who have gone before us and never made it back - Oldham, Bradford, Swindon, Huddersfield, Millwall to name but a few - previously fixtures in the top 2 divisions, now languishing in the nether reaches. That could easily be us.

I remember thinking the same when Lewington went. I thought the Board had made a mistake. As it turns out, they were right, I was wrong. I really, really hope they are right this time too..

On a lighter note, Skybet have published their odds for the next manager, Curbishley is 3/1 favourite. Check the details out here -

www.bettingzone.co.uk/footba...

Sing when I'm winning? Watford 2 Ipswich 1 - 30/08/08

So then. I'm back.

Having missed the Palace, Rovers and Charlton games (holidaying in the South of France) I made my home debut against Darlington.

This was something of a strange experience for me. Those of you who read my ramblings towards the end of last season will know that me and football weren't really getting on. So much so in fact that the last entry in this blog was on the 19th April. On that day I severed ties with the game for the summer.

[caption id="attachment_54" align="alignleft" width="128" caption="Pursuit cycling. Bravo!"][/caption]

It really all had got too much. Watford were woeful, England were worse and the Premiership was (is) full of some of the most unpleasant people on earth (Hi Ashley. Send my love to Cheryl. You tw*t.). So, I began a trial separation. It was quite nice really. I watched some cricket, I played some cricket. I kept half an eye on the Euro Championships in Austria and Switzerland and I played some half decent golf. I watched the Olympics and discovered that I quite liked pursuit cycling.  I went on holiday. I even did some gardening. Lots and lots of stuff that didn't involve football.

So, when it came to the Darlington game, it was all a bit alien. The first time I had thought about Watford for a good couple of months was when I attempted to go through the turnstiles ahead of the game.

I say attempted because, this being Watford, the end of our trial separation just had to have a hitch. The ticket office had failed to activate my and about 3,000 other season cards, necessitating a lengthy queue at the ticket office to collect a paper ticket. Welcome back to Watford!

Anyway I got in, and the game began. It followed the formula we have come to expect from these games - we play a weakened side against a lower league side. Both sides cancel each other out, with us looking marginally the stronger. We score, they score (late) and there is extra time. The fitness levels and presence of a few experienced players finally tells, and we win through. Just.

It wasn't a great spectacle, but my brother and I agreed that our reserve side beating a first team, albeit a lower league first team, could only be a good thing. That's right ladies and gents, a good thing.  I could feel something I hadn't felt for ages. Enthusiasm.

Ipswich next. And I am definitely back. In the week leading up to the game I am checking websites, reading fans forums, and generally looking forward to it.  I am taking my 7 year old nephew who had specifically requested a trip to see Watford as his birthday present. (Quite remarkable as his only previous visit was the 1-2 reverse against Bristol City last season). The promise of another young Hornet. in the family only adds to the feel good factor.

Game day is sunny and all is well. The ground is full (in the areas that aren't unsafe for human inhabitants)

[caption id="attachment_55" align="alignright" width="128" caption="5:22pm"][/caption]

and there is a big away following, adding to the atmosphere. Z Cars kicks in and I am definitely, definitely back. Football is brilliant. Mart Poom's 2nd minute clearance isn't however, and Ipswich are ahead.

This is an important moment for me. I'm not sure how I am going to react. I sit there for a while, staring at the Ipswich fans cheering and laughing in equal measure. I think about texting my brother (he is in the Rookery, I'm in the Rous) with some sarcastic comment about great starts. Then it dawns on me. I'm OK. There is a long way to go, and we can turn it around. We can still win this. Yes, that's right ladies and gentlemen, we can now add optimism to the newfound enthusiasm.

I'm delighted. You see, at the end of last season I thought I might have completely fallen out of love with Watford. Maybe even the game as a whole. A couple of minutes after Ipswich went ahead I realised that I am still head over heels.

The Ipswich fans serenaded us with an array of chants that were both amusing and aggravating in equal

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measure - "One-nil to the football team" (That one is presumably on loan from the oh so stylish WBA, currently struggling to score in the Premiership) and the even more laughable "We're just too good for you.." rang out from the Vicarage Road End...

The rest of course is history. Late winner+Ipswich fans and their daft chants+sunny Saturday evening+Watford FC=happiness. Brilliant. I make no excuses or apologies for my feelings and subsequent rants last season, and I stand by them. I don't think I have enjoyed a season less. It was horrible. I really thought it may have been over. I thought I was going to be one of those blokes who "used to go to Vicarage Road a lot when I was younger, but you know, I just stopped going really..."It turns out I'm not.

Bring it on!

Watford 0 Crystal Palace 2 - 19/04/08

I have been a Watford supporter since I was old enough to understand what football is. I have been a season ticket holder since not long after that.

Watford are a big part of my life, and will remain to be so - whatever happens, Premier League or Blue Square Premier League, I'll be there.

I wasn't there on Saturday though. I've had enough for this season. I'm not sure what that makes me - perhaps I haven;t got the stomach for the fight any more, perhaps I am getting older, perhaps I am conscious that I could spend more time with my girlfriend, or paying attention to the work that needs doing to my house.

I don't think it is any of those to be honest.

I had a moment of clarity during the week. I realised that i wasn't looking forward to going to the game. I just didn't want to do that walk to the ground that I have done however many hundreds of thousand times before. I just couldn't see myself enjoying it.

Now I know supporting your team is about supporting your team through thick and thin - being there for the good and the bad - yada yada yada. Well I have been there for both the good and the bad, but this season seems to have transgressed into some sort of baffling twilight zone. It isn't bad because we are 5th in the league, and still in with a (vague) chance of promotion, but it isn't good because, well, it just isn't is it?

Whatever it is, being at Vicarage Road this season has largely been an unenjoyable experience.

In the main, I enjoy my club being up there with the chasing pack. I enjoy us being "contenders". I'm not so sure I like what it has done to some of our supporters though.

"Boothroyd's got to go"
"He's taken us as far as he can" and of course, my personal favourite
"He's lost the dressing room"

All these phrases come tumbling out of fan's mouths, with varying degrees of inteligibility but increasing frequency and volume.

Yes, Boothroyd has spent money that no other Watford manager has had. But there is money in the game that the game has never had. Yes, we had a good start and were 9 points clear, but hey ho - other people have been up there and blown it too. At least we were up there and fighting. In with a chance. Yes, the football isn't going to win the Arsene Wenger style award, but hey, we are Watford fans - apart from pretty isolated pockets, when has it ever been anything else?

Perhaps we have a right to expect more, perhaps we don't. There are some that argue without ambition and indeed expectation, we may as well give up. What I am certain of is that people deserve time to get it right.

Adrian Boothroyd is a new manager. Not just new to us, but new to the job. He is bound to find it hard, and unfortunately that has been all to obvious at times but in the cold light of day, he hasn't done too badly has he.

Season 1  - Kept Watford up.
Season 2 - Watford promoted.
Season 3 - The Premiership - tough, but not embarassed.
Season 4 - Who knows, but it looks like another Top 6 finish.

On top of that, during his tenure he has had the unenviable/impossible task of replacing 4 of our most important, influential and valuable players - Marlon King, Hameur Bouazza, Adam Johnson and Ashley Young. Did anyone see Ashley Young play against Birmingham on Sunday? How do you replace that?

Boothroyd has spent more than any other Watford manager. Yes. But he has also achieved more than all but one manager already. Perhaps he deserves the chance to have another crack at it? OK, so we haven't won anything this year, no Cup Semi Final, No Championship. Last time I checked, Arsenal aren't going to win anything either. Does this mean Arsene Wenger has taken Arsenal "as far as he can"?

My point is, while I agree we should be aspiring to be as good as we can, and aiming to be an establishd Premiership team, the expectation among seems to have manifested itself in some sort of impatient, posionous desire for everything to be good, and for it to be good RIGHT NOW.

Players and management are berated in equal measure for misplaced passes, for not playing the ball on the floor, and in the same breath for not "getting rid of it". For not bringing a substitute on, and then for bringing him on to late. That substitute is then subject to abuse too, just for good measure.

Like I said, I haven't enjoyed the footbal this season. Whatever way you look at it, you couldn't describe it as awe inspiring. I can see the bigger picture though. Building a team, a successful team takes time. Look at Fergie at Man United. What had he won in the time that Boothroyd has been at Watford?  Not much. What has he won now?...

So the combination of the angry, impatient and perhaps ill informed anger of the home fans and the prospect of another Neil Warnock side running rings round us at home meant that i gave myself the afternoon off.

Of course all I did at home was pace the lounge and fret. I had Three Counties radio on, I turned it off. I had Soccer Saturday on, I turned it off. I had Beach cricket from Australia on, and quite enjoyed that for a while, but turned that off too. You see, you can't escape. That's what football does to you, it consumes you. It's irrational and it's daft, but it's the way it is.

I've renewed my season ticket already, and I'll be there next year, excited and full of hope. Again. I just hope EVERYONE learns something over the coming summer months, and we all come back stronger and better. We'll all enjoy it much more then.

Calum Davenport

What a sickener.

It transpires that he has fractured  a bone in his neck, and as such his loan has been terminated and he's back at West Ham. A terrific shame as not only had he just recovred from a serious injury, but he looked like a very welcome addition to our squad...

I wish him well and a speedy recovery.

The question now of course is how do we replace him? I assume that AB figured he had that particular hole plugged and has no other centre back shaped irons in the fire - so I'm guessing we will make do with what we've got.

Centre backs of Mariappa and DeMerit, with Stewart on the left and Doyley on the right - works in theory for me, although of course Mariapa went off injured too. I have no idea if his injury is serious or will keep him out of action...

If the worst comes to the worst - Williamson seemed to do OK as a makeshift right back on Saturday, perhaps he could fill that role again maing way for a certain Alhassan Bangura in the centre of the park. I don't know about you, but I've missed him...