Interesting article by Kevin Affleck... who has always had a good nose for a story. Plus something good on Doyley: Out of favour Jose Holebas could leave in January SEP 28, 2015BY KEVIN AFFLECK0 Watford are prepared to listen to offers for Jose Holebas when the transfer window reopens in January, just months after making him their record defensive signing. Holebas, 31, has not played since the 2-0 defeat at Manchester City, was an unused substitute at home to Swansea City and then left out altogether away at Newcastle United and at home to Crystal Palace yesterday. We are told that after failing to even make the travelling party to St James’ Park, the Greece international sought talks with owner Gino Pozzo on the Monday, bypassing Quique Sanchez Flores, Luke Dowling and Scott Duxbury. A source told us the transfer committee have decided to see if they can move him on in the New Year. The left-back, signed for around £1.8m from Roma, was at Vicarage Road yesterday, strolling in after the game had kicked off in casual clothes. He took his seat in the Sir Elton John Stand in front of Valon Behrami. please log in to view this image The word from the training ground is that Holebas has not immersed himself in the culture being fostered and conveys the impression of someone not happy at having swapped Champions League football for life at Watford. He has, on at least one occasion, complained about the standard of accommodation and had to have his arm seriously twisted by a member of the administration staff when asked to mingle and pose for pictures with those fans invited to the training base in Germany after the late cancellation of the friendly with Eintracht Braunschweig. Quique Sanchez Flores had to be asked three times at Friday’s press conference to clarify the situation regarding the left-back, a sure sign, judging by how evasive he was over Matej Vydra’s future, that all is not well. “Holebas is perfectly OK,” said the head coach at the third time of asking. “He is training well, trying give his best to go to the [matchday squad] list.” Contrast that with what Sanchez Flores said the previous week about Nathan Ake, who has found opportunities even harder to come by. “Ake is an amazing player and an amazing guy,” Sanchez Flores said. “Every day he is asking how he can improve. I am very happy with Ake.” please log in to view this image Pictures of Jose Holebas by Sean Hinks Holebas played 90 minutes at Everton but has struggled to displace Ikechi Anya since Sanchez Flores moved the Scotland international to left-back for the second half against West Bromwich. “He [Holebas] wants to play,” added the head coach. “It’s important to have high character when they don’t play. It is very difficult to make a list, to make the 18 every week. We have 25 players to choose from. It’s good to have three different players for this position like, [Nathan] Ake, like Holebas like Anya, with different characteristics.” Watford lodged their interest in Holebas long before Sanchez Flores joined, just like they negotiated contract extensions with Gabriele Angella and Vydra. Holebas, who signed a three-year contract at Vicarage Road, admitted to the press after the Manchester City game that “it was not my decision to come here” and that “in the beginning I was perhaps a bit apprehensive”. “I’d played Champions League football for a big club like Roma and now I’ve joined Watford and it was different for me in the head,” he said. His arrival at Watford in July was not the smoothest and took plenty of mediating by his agent, Fabio Parisi, after the player suggested the two clubs had jumped the gun by announcing a deal had been struck. please log in to view this image The length of Holebas’ shorts were a topic of discussion in Germany “I know that both Roma and Watford announced my transfer, but they’d have to talk to my representatives first,” Holebas told Greek website Gazzetta at the time. The probable departure of Holebas in January would free up a foreign player spot in the 25-man squad list which may go to another attacking option. Sanchez Flores could offset the loss of a left-back option by adding Lloyd Doyley, who can play in either full-back berth, to the Premier League roster. “He [Doyley] belongs to the philosophy of Watford,” said Sanches Flores. “He’s popular, an amazing person and is working very hard. We think a lot of this player, he has passed through a difficult situation and now he starts to play. We are not in a hurry with this player.” Almen Abdi, on the other hand, has not been a moment’s bother to Sanchez Flores. please log in to view this image
