Last thoughs on Malky

My last thoughts on Malky

Well probably not but have had time to think about his time with us..

When we look back in years to come I think Malky will hardly feature – alongside most managers who havenot achieved much here. If we get relegated next year that may change for the worse although I suspect many will say it would have happened anyway – which would not be a ringing endorsement of Malky

Apologists for MM accuse those of us who are angry of trying to “write off his achievements before he has reached the Severn Bridge” and of denigrating his character.

Lets look at some facts. He was in charge for 99 games and statistically had a poor record of just 33% wins – only two managers in the last 25 years have much worse. You then have to look at the players and budget he had available. A lot has been made by some of the curious argument that only Scunthorpe had a lower budget. Well if you have a perfect team then the low budget should not matter as you would not be buying – but we did not have a perfect team. However we did have a striker who was the best in the division – Malky deserves credit not for buying him as Rodgers did that but for getting him to play well. There are often good players who don’t play well and it is the manager who needs a lot of praise for putting a player in the right position and motivating them. It is especially important at our level as the players are not the best (obviously) so need support from those around them, Aidy failed towards the end in that respect as he could not get Priskin or McAnuff to play and then Rodgers did.

Malky also gave us some of the best football to watch for many years. Huis style was so much better than Aidy’s and even to some extent than Rodgers who although he played a passing game which can be attractive it too often led nowhere. Under Malky we scored lots of goals and were entertaining.

On the negative side Malky’s defence was often a shambles and he failed to get an England Under 21 goalkeeper to show any form this year – adding pressure at the back. I know you all love Doyley but he is at best average and by being caught out of position leads to many goals conceded. Malky did not solve that problem either by coaching the errors out of Doyley or by replacing him.

We had some pretty good players – not least ones we are now afraid we may lose like Eustace and Cowie. Up front we had other alternatives and were not poor in midfield. We have had the benefit of some loan players in the last few years some of whom have contributed well and others less so

In all though Malky’s lack of funds did not hamper our ability to play. There were not too many times when the fans were crying out for new faces in our team. So the argument that Malky had no budget to speak of is only partially true – he had enough decent players to at least get us mid table – which is what he did – and personally I think many other man agers would have done the same.

My verdict on Malky’s ability as a manager is he did OK – not great and his loss alone would not cause me concern – had we retained the likes of Buckley and Graham. People sometimes say there are lies damned lies and statistics; others that the league table does not lie – well we had only 33% wins 33 wins and 41 defeats and we never reached mid table at the end of the season - make what you will of our “poor” players – I don’t think our squad was too shabby.

Then we come to his character. Some argue he gave us two seasons of survival and did what he was paid to do and has the right to move on to better himself. All correct. However the other side is that Watford gave him the chance he asked for – we were the ones in difficult times who took a gamble on an untried inexperienced man to be manager. He got a lot out of that and it is that chance which has enabled him to land probably a half million pound a year job. (His predecessor earned £900k per annum so I am guessing Malky is not daft enough to accept less than half that)

People say you have the right to change jobs – they are correct – same applied to Rodgers but it was the way he went about it that brought him our dislike. I think Malky has treated us dreadfully. Here’s why. Whenever I had an employee who was very valuable to me and I thought he might be ready to look for another job I would sit down an discuss the future – what they wanted, what the company wanted etc. If it was clear they needed to move on as we were not “big” enough for them any more or whatever the that would be fair enough and I would accept they would move when they found something more suitable. If though they were in the “I’m nearly ready” mode then we might agree a new salary, job tasks etc to keep them interested and motivated for another year or whatever. Had any of them ever then let me down by moving 3 months later I would have felt personally let down – it never happened.

Honourable people stand by their word even when it is not convenient – otherwise your word is worthless. You do not accept an offer and then ignore it. Malky did this. If he had had an agreement with the club when he signed his 3 year conrtract in March to leve if something better came up the club could not have denied Cardiff permission to speak to him at first.

He knew the new owner, the club budget , the difficulties, the likely player sales and buys yet still he signed a 3 year deal. Then he junks it. If any of you think that is honourable then I am pleased I do not do business with you – my word is my bond and anyone who knows me trusts me.

Watford needed to secure his services to make this difficult summer as smooth as it could be – so that on top of losing our best players we would have some stability behind the scenes. They thought they had secured that. The club would undoubtedly have been better if Malky had been honest in March and said he would take a better offer if one came along.

Think what you like – he moved for personal gain and he has harmed the employer who gave him his break. If we are relegated next year I think his departure will have increased that possibility significantly.

Well thanks Malky – any good work you did will be undone. You have your silver, you have harmed others – Judas is a harsh name but is only synonymous for selling yourself in bad circumstances for money – that is what he has done. Denigrate his character? - he has doe that not me.

Unfortunately he is like 99% of other people in football it seems

 

Sadly, I do agree with a lot of this Leonardo, well said. The last line speaks volumes. It seems to be alright, in Football, to act in ways noone else in business could or would act. A reputation in Football is not tarnished by shoddy behaviour, on the wider spectrum. Nobody will think that we have been hard done by, not by BR, nor by MM. The truth is, because 'everyone does it', that seems to make it ok. It doesn't, not to the people that matter. Not to the club, nor to the fans. But since when did fans feelings count for anything...

 

Bloody well said !!

 

Here, here!

Yes, we are only the poor mugs that pay their wages, we really don't matter!

 

Excellent article Leo ,well done! Whilst I agree with your thoughts on MM`s contract, I was worried after the do, because of the interactions pubically between the new owner and MM and the new owner and GT!I think MM`s new contract was an exercise purely to gain more compensation if he left!
Even Baz new that every managerial vacancy that came up then MM would be linked to it! hardly rocket science!
I believe MM waited to see what the new owner would be like ,hence not going to burnley! Then with whats happened in the last few weeks ,he has got fed up with trying to rebuild his team continually! I know that working a specific programme in aircraft maintenance, if a team is kept together the job can be done far more efficiently than if you are continually having to bring new personnel up to speed all the time!
On top of that being offered more money and a better prospect of furthering his career, I dont blame him for what has happened ,he has only done what most ambitious people would do!
It is just another reminder that there is no such thing as loyalty in football apart from the poor old fans!
I agree with you about the stats and win percentages and even what happened to Loaches form , also agree with you on some of the tactics! but all in all
MM did a good job for us and for that I thank him and wish him all the best at Baadiff! as long as he doesnt come back and take anymore of our staff!
On this matter I am assuming there would have been some clauses covering this in his transfer to Cardiff!

 

The thing is Norway, he would have known all of that from the time he took the job in the first place, with or without Baz. We're never going to be the sort of club that finds that kind of stability. It's not like he came into the job, promised loads of money to spend, and that loanees would stay a year, it doesn't work like that at Watford, and he knew that better than most.

 

Thing is H he has now been offered a chance to see if he can cut it at ajob with more money
Higher expectations and more pressure!
Its the next step on his career path!

 

Pantomime Villain!

There are a lot of people on here saying "Malky signed his new contract and then wanted to leave". When Malky signed the contract I thought ..... what if ...... and I never thought Malky was here for the long term. The facts are out in the open, he took over from BR in a regime of cost cutting with the likes of Ellington and Sadler crippling our finances. Every year there was pressure on player sales and reduction of costs, yet Malky was seemingly able to win the uphill battle.

Then the new contract was offered by the new owner, but with the continuity factor that Julian Winter was his boss on a day-to-day basis with GT being around to lend advice. And then June arrived - the expected player sales have happened (more could follow???) and some cash has been raised, added to the Sarries money, added to the expected Ashley Young money .......

But then Julian Winter departed. Of all our recent setbacks this was a big one. I have no doubt Malky had a close working relationship with Julian and his removal was a big setback in my view. Put another way, who runs the football club on a day to day basis with in depth knowledge of football issues? If the answer is Baz, then I cannot blame Malky for "being open to suggestion" as I would put it.

I would love to know how hard Baz actually fought to keep Malky, before realising that Malky's new contract added a few '00k onto his compensation agreement.

If it makes people feel better, blame Malky. Then we can all hope everything is suddenly "cleansed".

PS : for those of you with a strong stomach check out the nauseating article in this month's "My Local News". There is a 3 page in depth summary of his thoughts. Some might call it "happy pap" ....

 

Mmmm--- rather a mixed article for me. Some good points , but in the end unfair to Malky. A much more balanced appraisal is in the article by Matt Rowson linked into the "Hornets Nest" thread. If you missed it is at http://bhappy.wordpress.com/2011/06/18/the-laird-is-dead/? I won't attempt a point -by -point rebuttal, but just remind you that the team Malky assembled , and that did so well before Christmas, had to be broken up in January because we could not afford to keep the loanees, and there was no depth to the squad to replace injured players. So the lack of funds DID hamper our ability to play, and to sustain a challenge. As for " he should have been more grateful/loyal...he acted dishonourably.." well, until last week he was regarded by most people as a person of integrity (may I use that word?) and I see nothing about the way he moved to change that view. The club did seem to expect him to go sooner rather than later (not "thought they had secured his services for three years" )and he signaled that probability publicly in his WO interview. The Cardiff approach was dragged out and clumsy, but unless you know some unpublished details of who said what to who and when, you cannot say it reflects badly on him.

The club is weaker without him than with him, and replacing him with someone who is good at inspiring and developing young players while staying competitive in this division will not be easy . I hope Mr B takes advice , and listens to it. The last thing we want is a has-been, a never- was or one of his mates. We need continuity and someone who understands our systems , players and ethos. Dyche looks a good candidate.

And you are right Leonardo--this will not be the last word on the subject . Wait till the week before Christmas and getting ready for the visit of Cardiff. That will be an interesting moment to compare how Watford and Malky have fared without each other.

 

Agreed Roger and have already posted it a couple of days back ! I am in the camp that as yet MM has done nothing wrong , and doesnt deserve any villification! He has done what anyone would have done!
The problem area is uncle Baz!

 

I have been somewhat amused by the postings of you Roger and Elixir - as I have said (and others too) some fairly grumpy views - but both of you stick like glue to Malky.

He did OK and of course lack of funds did not help - but Rodgers did not buy either - and I have said his managerial record is OK - not as poor as the statistics say due to lack of funds.

But tell me if any of you are bosses in your workplace and have offered someone a contract to delay their leaving and they have taken it and then left anyway. Perhaps just perhaps (and I strongly doubt it) Winter leaving changed Malky's mind - who knows?

I would not have done what he did - he has to know that by signing a contract in March and leaving in June he has done a lot more harm to the club that gave him his managerial chance. Not nice - not loyal - not honourable. He went for him and him alone and bugger the club and its fans.

Presumably you both feel Rodgers was fine too - after all his only mistake was two days before he left saying he had integrity - he did not - but other than that he acted better than Malky as he went to his "home" club which is always forgiveable.

 

He did us more of a favour by leaving soon after signing than leaving it later - we'll get more compensation.

I wouldn't mention Ginger in the same breath as Malky. Ginger found it necessary to open his giant North 'n' South to the media (who wouldn't have been chasing him would they? But he saw fit to come out with a pack of lies to them) and then left with no respect to his former club. Malky has not been chasing the media, he has behaved decently, shown due respect to his former club and I wish him the very best for the future. One of the best defenders in the air I have ever seen in a Watford shirt, saved us from relegation when everything was stacked against him, shown the greatest of integrity () when dubious owners have held his contract.

We're floggin' a dead 'un here aren't we, Leo ? I keep taking the bait .

Is there some Welsh politics (Swansea/Cardiff) in this that us Saeson don't understand .

 

I can see both side's of the argument and although I have a lot of respect for the way Malky got us playing I also feel very let down that he has not given WFC a little more time after giving him his break in management. Having said all that my real concern is Baza! I have a horrible feeling that GT is not happy about the whole situation and Malky and Winter felt the same (hence they left)!
I just hope that GT realises the power he has over Baza, stands up to him and digs his heels in when Baza tries to buy another Nathan Ellington or do something equally stupid, the only person 100% of WFC fans trust is GT! we know he holds the club close to his heart and he will always do what he feels is best for us. Baza must know this and will have to bend over backwards to keep GT happy, hopefully he will always remember that if GT goes then the S**t really is going to hit the fan. Heres hoping anyway

 

Agreed, E's T. In terms of buying another NE, I can't see him put his hand in his pocket in the foreseeable - there's nuffink in it .

 

I genuinley didnt think he was going to spend any money, more like he decides to sell Cowie, Eustace, becomes manager and plays Lloyd up front but I would say that buying NE was up there with the most ridilculous things seen at WFC along with Vialli, Ramon Vega, Dave Bassatt !!! Any more you can think of?

 

SLB well put and I agree with what you say ,MM hasnt done anything wrong! hasnt opened his gob and spouted off like BR and to be honest ,everything he has said has been truthful! I suppose sometimes truth hurts , but now we have to move on!

 

The compensation would not be much different if he left now or in a year - if a club wanted him to break a contract then compensation has to be agreed - it is not a function of the contract - we got £500k for Rodgers.

Incorrect SLB - the point is that the media WERE chasing Rodgers as it was known Reading had done the dirty and they wanted answers and were saying he would leave - he has apologised since and said he should not have been goaded into a response and he regretted it but he was fed up with people saying what he would do - he said he was trying to smooth troubled waters and saying that until he was officially approached he was OUR manager. He has admitted he was stupid - but that made no difference to the outcome - it was just a few words - he left for his HOME club

Malky rightly kept quiet - although interviewed on radio Wales his first question was "was it easy to leave Watford?" and he said YES. OK he was a good player - noone has argued differently

Not bait SLB - and I don't like Cardiff or Swansea any more or less than other clubs. It is the fact that Rodgers was criticised for ONE stupid comment that he has admitted and apologised for but Malky cynically signed a contract which he clearly had no intention of honouring. He has doubled our chance of relegation in my view - thanks Malky - enjoy your new salary and seeing us spending July finding a manager

Malky was good until 9th June and then he shat on us - for money JUDAS

 

I agree with most of what you say also, but we all know managers stand and fall by results and it may be that after all the good PR he got around the middle of last season he thought it that it would be prudent to move on now rather than struggle next season and vanish of the radar?. On the other hand if he pulled of the impossible and got us to the Premiership then he could almost pick his next club. What ever we think as Watford fans this is a huge, huge gamble by Malky that could easily go either way. A brave man in taking the risk?.
Thanks for reading my first contribution, here is hoping for some positive news from the Vic very soon

 

This is so correct , I feel if GT goes we are totally screwed!

 

Leo so you never changed jobs for a pay rise then ! You stayed with the same company al your working life!
If so I applaud your loyalty,otherwise some of what you say is a touch hypocritical! every working family man is going to do what he thinks is best for his family! IMO MM is no Judas ,just an ambitious young man advancing his career!
If BR hadnt of gobbed off ! then I would give him the same consideration!