I cannot believe someone who follows the horns could be so ignorant - it does not surprise me that Holloway and other opposing managers say these things - they are trying to destabilize a threat - and the TV and tabloid hacks would say anything to sell their rubbish - but for someone who actually follows us to not realize that we are probably still doing more to help our young players and still giving them every chance to develop and learn new skills amazes me. The loan thing is a red herring - if the rules changed overnight we could buy the players at a nominal fee - the Pozzos would pay the Pozzos. So we have rich owners - QPHa, Cardiff and Leicester all have tried to buy success to name but a few
Its the number of them which seems to be the main issue... Well they don't ALL play and if somebody tells us to have a few less we'll just do as Leo says. How does it work for next season - do we even get a load more coming because I got the impression we sign a few on and then only get 1 or 2 if required. Zola isn't going to want 10 more anyway given he himself said it was a bit too many in terms of squad size.
When all's said and done we're not importing established world class players. Most of them are far from the finished article. Watching what Man City's billions have bought them in the game against Southampton reminds us it's still down to Zola to transform a mixed bunch into an effective and successful team. There are always going to be richer and poorer teams in the modern football world and while I might pine for the days when the likes of Leyton Orient, Northampton or Carlisle could reach the top tier it's not the present reality. What IS key though is that whatever way your club develops it needs to respect loyal fans and retain their support. I do feel sorry for loyal fans of big clubs who have been priced out of attending.
True - although if we do that, someone, somewhere will no doubt object to us buying so many at once, and so cheaply, too. Although we did set a precedent back in the 40's or 50's by buying seven players from Leicester - all in one hit.
BB, not a tweeter myself but as you seem to know about social media try posting to Phil Mcnulty here https://mobile.twitter.com/philmcnulty
A good article here that fits with the way that this thread as gone. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...feel-at-home-with-foreign-owners-8488501.html
It's simply because we are doing well now. If we were languishing near the bottom, people would just say something along the lines of: we are a failed experiment. Last season, when Donny Rover had loads of loans at a fraction of their wage, no one complained too mulch because it wasn't working. I can kind I'd understand some of the complaints because we can play so many in one game, but some of the ignorance is astounding. Who's to say if it is morally wrong or right, but we are not breaking any rules. I'm sure the FL will look into this... But you'd think they'd want entertaining games in the league. I'd rather do it the way we are doing it than spend ridiculous amounts on wages and transfer fees, endangering the future of the club. I'd rather this than changing the clubs colours and nickname for a foreign market.... Ian Holloway is a clown. He was once amusing but now just comes across as a spoilt brat not getting his own way.
He used to be mildly amusing, almost funny... but that rant was like the geezer in the pub who's had a pint too many and opens his mouth without engaging the brain prior to setting the world to rights... Green eyed monster? Jumpers for goalposts? Not 'arf.
The Beeb being fair and balanced again I see. Two paragraphs at the end of the article should set the record straight. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21402835
It didn't compare how many players on each team on Friday had come up through their teams on development programmes....
EIGHT (8!!!) PLAYERS PRODUCED FROM THE WATFORD ACADEMY HAVE PLAYED A COMPETITIVE MATCH FOR THE HORNETS THIS SEASON! . 3066... the total number of minutes played by Palace academy graduates in the league so far this season, 4146... the total number of minutes played by Watford academy graduates this season in the league so far. How are the loans comprising our academy? Ok, it might not be the perfect situation. But neither is spending hundreds of millions of pounds in a manner that is completely unsustainable and risks the health of the club
In all fairness, I hate Ian Holloway. I think he's a self-obsessed, egotistical prick, but he does have a point. I like you Watford fans and I'm not trying to stir anything, but he has pointed out the flaws of the modern game. It's shown the difference in rules between the English and foreign game. What has happened here at Watford, is not particularly bad on your behalf, because you're technically not breaking any rules. If you can gain that many players from one Club, then why not? The owners wouldn't stop potential success on behalf of morals. However, Watford do seem to be the only side doing it, and I think rules should be the same for the sport as a whole. There shouldn't be different rules for different Countries because then it's not really football; it's different adaptations of it. Having however many Udinese loanees however is quite ridiculous. It's literally a development squad for out-of-favour players at the parent Club. There's arguments for both sides and Holloway wasn't particularly justified to have that outburst on the FLS, but it has opened up more questions about the consistency and credibility of English football IMO. Anyways, my input done, good luck for the rest of the Season lads It's going to be a corker!
agreed! Agreed too! ...it's having the same effect as a bad ref decision..that gets the Rookery rocking usually.this has done the same! Well said! Grrr! Unfortunately, like most people outside of the club, your post, however well intentioned, is misinformed. 1. We're not breaking any rules. ('not technically breaking rules' hints at rule breaking, and we're not). 2. We're the only side doing it. Absolutely. But you can bet your bottom dollar that now that we are, other clubs are looking to do the same thing. Someone has to be the first at something, just so happens it's us on this occasion. Makes a nice change. What's the problem then? 3. "It's literally a development squad for out-of-favour players at the parent Club. " Totally wrong i'm afraid. It seems you've completely missed the point. The Pozzos have an excellent scouting network. They buy players very cheaply and they sign for Udinese. They have no intention of playing all of them at Udinese. Some of them they will send to Granada or Watford, and if they're good enough, they'll develop and become worth a lot of money and they'll sell them for a massive profit, benefitting the owners and the club along the way. If they're not, they're gone. Simple as that. Not sure why nobody understands this vital piece of information! Thanks for your input, i hope i've managed to clear up some of the questions you raise. If only someone could tell that oaf, Holloway, too! good luck to you too
It's generally just sour grapes from teams looking on enviously. If we had spent £20million on all those palyers, Holloway would be moaning that he wished he had that kind of money. If we had an Ex-Man Utd player, and had a few Man Utd players on loan, he'd moan he wish he was his mate and could ask for loans, and if we had a few players on loan who earned an extortionate salary but we only paid a fraction of their wage, he'd bemoan how 'unfair' it was. Many clubs have 'relationships' with other teams, and send out players, but we must be one of the first teams in England to be on the 'receiving' end of the players. The FL can either close this rule, or other clubs can look at similar link ups. By the start of next season, I fully expect the 'loans' (or short term transfers, as they actually are) we have will be just a handful. We would have either signed many of these players on full time contracts, or we would have used the Pozzo scouting network to sign players. This season is just to see how many of these players suit Watford more than they suit Udinese! If (when?) we do make it to the Premiership, I wouldn't be surprised if we stockpile the up and coming talent from aroudn the world, and loan those out across the 'family'. Look at the current Chelsea model, and how many they have out on loan (I think possily about 18). This will become ours as well. I look forward to this day, when we don't have the petty-minded, excuse-making moaners like Mr Holloway!
