Funny how our under 18s managed to win the tournament in Japan. They won only one and lost two group games, then were awarded the quarter final 1-0 because their South Korean opponents quit, beat a Chinese side in the semis and beat Nagasaki in the final Due credit to them though. Watford were one of only 4 foreign sides up against 12 domestic teams.
the U23s are failing, but they were the old boys...maybe now we are seeing the fruits of the Pozzo influence in the Academy..i'd like to think, since it must take a good four years for things to start coming together with the youth side of things..what do you think?
If they get the chance - quite a few Under 18s have been playing for the Under 23s. Maybe part of the problem? Getting a bit bullied by older stronger players...
It is a bit of a problem. I have to say that I find the U23 age group an odd one - if the older 'kids' in that age group haven't broken in to a first team squad somewhere by then, you'd have to seriously wonder if they ever will. And there's a world of difference in skills/physique between 18 & 23 - boys against men. 'If you're good enough, you're old enough' doesn't apply to everyone - in my experience, I'd say it's a relative rarity. I still think there's a place in football for both an U21 competition and Reserve competition - and unless that would be too costly, I don't see why there isn't. It can't be good for the morale of a club's senior fringe players to be only getting game time against what are effectively juniors.
http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co....-former-club/story-30215403-detail/story.html Gomes linked with a move away? I flipping hope not...
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sp...ornets_register___3_6_million_pre_tax_profit/ In the black at last - well, sort of...
I see Cleverley is reported to be one game away from triggering a clause in his deal which would see him sign permanently for us
I assume that as the transfer was initially stated as "loan with a view to a permanent transfer", he'll still officially be on loan to us until the transfer window re-opens, depending on the details in the documents that went to the FA/PL in January.
I have seen a figure of £6M mentioned. If that is anywhere near correct it seems to me to be a bargain.
Success still not match fit to start! http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sp...s_and_Amrabat__need_to_find_fitness_/?ref=rss Are the club hiding something maybe...asthma?
Did we not sack the old medical team and get a brand new all singing all dancing medical centre this year. If so can anyone tell me how it is benefitting our injured players. I can not remember a season more affected by injuries.
He ought to be a great asset to us and those sort of figures in the Prem are nothing really. People talk about us as not having the squads of a lot of those around us but if all our players were fit and available and we had a different manager I think we could be an exciting and successful team and that top half should be well within our grasp. Competing for best of the rest should be our aim, not surviving alone. We can leave dreams of Europe for another few years.
Success is a strange one - it will be interesting to see how much game time he gets for Nigeria this week, and if he really can do 90 mins As for squad, the midfield and attack I think is as good as anything in the bottom half (maybe even outside the top 7), although would possibly let Watson go and try and bring in another specialist DM Defensively I think we are rather iffy... Janmaat is a very good player but way to injury prone, and we have no real RB cover. Holebas is good in spells but is a suspension waiting to happen, and again, no cover. CB's, we have way too many older players... they are so slow and any team scouting us only has to realise they need to play balls behind for a pacey striker to run on to, and they will cause problems - and even just running at them... they're too afraid to put in a challenge and be passed. I'd be happy for us to get rid of Britos, Mariappa, Prodl and Kaboul. Keep Cathcart and Kabasele and bring in a couple of younger players. Would love us to have brought in Gibson, Maguire or Keane in the summer but all those will be looking at higher teams now! As for the keeper - Gomes has performed great for us but is still prone to mistakes... but he's won us more points than he's lost us so can't grumble too much! We do still need to find a long-term successor for him, and it's not Pantillimon!
One loanee is expecting a return to the Vic next season.. http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/15171223.Berghuis_expects_Hornets_stay/?ref=mr&lp=1
Link to a summary of what was discussed at the latest "At your place" meeting last night: http://www.wfcforums.com/showthread.php?59814-At-Your-Place/page4